Which CAD + simulation software for an amateur?
Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:27 pm
Hi all
Sorry for another one of these posts, just after some advice on CAD and simulation software choices for a (very) amateur user.
I'm trying to design a mountain bike frame, I started this in Onshape, which I've found reasonably easy to pick up. So far I've got a fairly rough model, I want to do some strength analysis/simulations of it though. This would require a fair bit of work on it - there are bits where I was lazy with it and aren't constructed properly, plus stuff that isn't finished yet etc.
In terms of simulations, basically I want to see if it would snap/bend when subjected to likely peak forces and to cyclical loading. There's an ISO standard and some other independent testing standards that detail various ways the frame should be fixed with loads applied at specific points with different magnitudes, frequencies and cycles etc, so I want to replicate these as far as possible.
Doing any kind of FEA/simulation in Onshape looks potentially expensive. Given I need to do a lot of work on my model I'm considering starting over in a different package. I've downloaded Fusion 360 for personal use but having to re-learn new software is off-putting, after a couple of hours messing around in it I'm finding it unintuitive, but plenty of people seem to like it.
I'm therefore after advice as to what the best approach is, I think my options are:
- Continue with Onshape, in which case what would people suggest for strength simulations? A license for Onshape would give me access to its simulation toolbox but it's $1500 for a year. I've had a look at Simscale but they don't list prices which suggests its not cheap.
- Use another CAD package. E.g. Fusion 360 is much more palatable at £510 for a year (currently on sale at £357). Is there anything else worth considering?
- Pay someone to do it for me. I like this option, but I'm not sure how realistic it is.
Apart from recent experiences with Onshape, I've used Solidworks before for CAD and FEA but it was nearly 20 years ago on an undergraduate engineering course, so probably not that helpful. I work as an engineer doing mathematical modelling and simulation, but unfortunately not this kind; mechanical structures and material science have always been a bit of a weak point.
In terms of hardware I've got a laptop with 13th gen Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM and Nvidia 4060 GPU.
Thanks
Sorry for another one of these posts, just after some advice on CAD and simulation software choices for a (very) amateur user.
I'm trying to design a mountain bike frame, I started this in Onshape, which I've found reasonably easy to pick up. So far I've got a fairly rough model, I want to do some strength analysis/simulations of it though. This would require a fair bit of work on it - there are bits where I was lazy with it and aren't constructed properly, plus stuff that isn't finished yet etc.
In terms of simulations, basically I want to see if it would snap/bend when subjected to likely peak forces and to cyclical loading. There's an ISO standard and some other independent testing standards that detail various ways the frame should be fixed with loads applied at specific points with different magnitudes, frequencies and cycles etc, so I want to replicate these as far as possible.
Doing any kind of FEA/simulation in Onshape looks potentially expensive. Given I need to do a lot of work on my model I'm considering starting over in a different package. I've downloaded Fusion 360 for personal use but having to re-learn new software is off-putting, after a couple of hours messing around in it I'm finding it unintuitive, but plenty of people seem to like it.
I'm therefore after advice as to what the best approach is, I think my options are:
- Continue with Onshape, in which case what would people suggest for strength simulations? A license for Onshape would give me access to its simulation toolbox but it's $1500 for a year. I've had a look at Simscale but they don't list prices which suggests its not cheap.
- Use another CAD package. E.g. Fusion 360 is much more palatable at £510 for a year (currently on sale at £357). Is there anything else worth considering?
- Pay someone to do it for me. I like this option, but I'm not sure how realistic it is.
Apart from recent experiences with Onshape, I've used Solidworks before for CAD and FEA but it was nearly 20 years ago on an undergraduate engineering course, so probably not that helpful. I work as an engineer doing mathematical modelling and simulation, but unfortunately not this kind; mechanical structures and material science have always been a bit of a weak point.
In terms of hardware I've got a laptop with 13th gen Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM and Nvidia 4060 GPU.
Thanks