FEA program opinions? 19

[MechElement]

Hello, I'm in the market for a license of SWx, but I would also like a good FEA program to accompany SWx. I've heard about NENastran & COSMOS running with SolidWorks, but it appears everyone has a different opinion about them. I'm a mechanical designer and working in the Middle East. I'm returning to the States for good in August to go back to school and finish my BSME.

Which FEA program works best with SWx?

 

[johnhors]

MechElement - there are probably many products available that are more than capable of linear static analysis and won't break the bank either. Here are just a few:-

Felipe -

http://www.felipe.co.uk

Femdesigner -

http://www.femdesigner.com

Roshaz -

http://www.roshaz.com

Strand7 -

http://www.strand7.com

 

[Jabberwocky]

COSMOSXpress is below even my sensibilities. You can only restrain things fully, and anything beyond a cantilever-type setup will give wacky results - with no option to fix them. Also you can't work with anything beyond a single part, and have only the slightest amount of control over the mesh size.

I did have a sales guy walk by and say, "Wow, that's a nice picture." So I guess Xpress is good for that...

 

[jcfoley]

I am in the process of specifying a FEA package for my company. In regards to value, I will have to side with GBOR on Algor. Its capabilities combined with competitive pricing make it a bargin in my opinion. I will have to quantify my opinion a bit as I have not worked with FEA for a few years and am just now getting back into it. I have a quote for Cosmos DesignStar which is a standalone package that runs about $8,500 for a single seat with support. This has almost no add-ins. The Algor equal has been quoted to me at $6,000. Compare this with NEiNastran at $10k. For any normal size company, this cost should be easy to justify.

Chris Foley
Midland, TX

 

[GBor]

Chris,

Thanks for the endorsement, but I've stayed out of these discussions because I believe each of these packages, in the right hands, have merit. I must admit that even I am suprised at the cost descrepancies you're quoting. I'm guessing that NEiNastran is that much more because you're still having to pay for the FEMAP license, which couldn't be discounted with the NEiNastran kernel.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[MechElement]

GBor, I'm speaking with Noran Engineering and I'm being told just to start out in FEA with L1 & L2, you're looking at $7K... with all modules you're looking at $11K. That's straight from the company.

There are so many different programs. I'm going to check out Algor and see what it offers.

-Jason

 

[jcfoley]

Jason, I would be interested in what information you get. I was quoted L1-L3 at $11,500. The Algor quote was $7,500. It may be possible that L1-L3 contains more functionality that the modules (Professional Static with the Dyanmic Analysis Extender) Algor quoted me. However, I only need certian functions and this is how I compare the two, based on what I can use vs cost.

Chris Foley
Midland, TX

 

[GBor]

Jason,

I can certainly recommend Algor. I've been a fan for many years, but, as I've told Algor over the many years with which I have done business with them, I try to make sure that the tool fits the application.

If you are looking for an in-house tool that does linear statics and dynamics, go for the low-cost solution. If you have to interface with a variety of FEA packages, FEMAP with NENastran may be useful. If you are looking at automesh capabilities because you have complicated models and need to mesh them quickly, I like Algor. If you are looking for a CAD-integrated solution, Algor, NENastran, and COSMOS each offer their flavor of integration...depends on which one is easiest for you.

I can go on for hours about each of these packages. I'm pleased to see Chris pursuing Algor because I think it will do what he needs done with the greatest efficiency, but his application to his industry is different from everyone else's, so his solution may be different as well.

Definitely speak with Algor, it's worth your time to educate yourself.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[MechElement]

Algor's website provides much more information than the Nastran & COSMOS sites... I'm requesting informaion from a sales rep.

jcfoley, I'm in the same boat as you actually. I'm looking at the same core package and extender.

 

[GBor]

Jason,

Where are you located? I'm assuming in the US?

Garland

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[GBor]

Gentlemen,

There is an Algor forum. Before this becomes a sales pitch for Algor, we can discuss the details and merits of individual software packages in the specific software forum. The Algor forum is forum810.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[MechElement]

GBor, I'm in Kuwait right now. I'm going to be in the US for good in August.

Thanks for the link.

 

[GBor]

Sorry, forgot your original post indicating you were in Kuwait. To where will you returning in August?

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[MechElement]

Boise, Idaho.

 

[fkmeyers]

Garland has a very high opinion of Algor. Myself, most of my associates and the companies that deal with my employer (a major defense contractor) have a very different opinion of it. I am sure if price is your only concern Algor will come down to what ever price it takes to get you to buy it. I personally think that says a lot for the product. I highly recommend you try each product, test the support, and make a decision based on what you need now and in the future. Resist any "buy before Friday and I will give it to you for 1/4 the price" deals.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[GBor]

Frank,

Nice shot. I used to work for "a major defense contractor" that used Algor. I've made it clear that I do like it. I've also made it clear that I like your beloved NENastran and, incidentally, COSMOS in certain applications. If you have problems with Algor, take it up with them, not with me in this forum.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[fkmeyers]

Actually, I am certain my employer has a few copies of Algor, but they have not been updated and are not being used. Garland, please read what I wrote. The fact that you wrote "used Algor" in the past tense leads me to believe your employer is doing the same.

Also, please note that nowhere in this thread did I plug NENastran or even mention it. My comments have been generic in nature so to allow others to make intelligent decisions and not to react to advertising and marketing hype. We actually use a wide range of FEA products besides Nastran including ABAQUS, LS-Dyna, and BOSOR5.

I never gave my opinion of your "beloved" Algor. I just said I have a different opinion of it. I believe I am OK with saying this in this forum.

 

[GBor]

My apologies, Frank, but based on our history, I didn't want anyone being misled. In my opinion, Algor can price themselves lower on these basic packages because they also have control over the cost of their pre- and post-processor, not because their package is any less capable.

As for my employer having "used" Algor, they still do. They just aren't my employer any longer...I'm on my own now. Hence the sensitivity to being tied to a single FEA package...I like to keep my opportunities open, which requires that my opinions remain guarded and capabilities in a variety of FEA packages remain sharp.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[MechElement]

fkmeyers, care to explain why defense contractors stay away from Algor? How long have you been in the defense business? I know a lot about the politics and "reasons" why they choose different software, hardware and pretty much everything. Why would you say Algor would drop their price to make me purchase it? Is this the case with your company?

 

[fkmeyers]

I have been in defense as long as I have worked. Over 19 years with 3 different defense contractors in 2 different states.

“My current employer is huge and has over 200,000 employees. A few years ago I was looking for a package I could do consulting with on the side. I remember talking to an Algor sales person and him saying my company used Algor. I talked to the people in the division he said used it and they said they were not using it and some IT guy only bought it because Algor basically gave it to them.

I decided not to go with them mainly because their software was not as well suited to aerospace and Nastran was. You could make a similar argument about Nastran not being well suited to civil engineering though it is used for that more and more today as I understand.

I know some other people that have used it and have other opinions but I do not want to offend anyone so I will refrain from saying anything negative. Besides, I am not sure if this forum is the place to get into this type of discussion.

 

[jcfoley]

"Besides, I am not sure if this forum is the place to get into this type of discussion."

The title of this thread was and still is "FEA program opinions." "Opinion" implies that no one has a wrong answer. I believe that both mechelement and I are looking for WHY your opinion is what it is. I am looking for 1) a package that will do what I need now 2) a package that will do what my company needs in the future and 3) A package that makes the most fiscal sense after #1 and #2 are satisfied. As for me, I am not in the aerospace or defense industry. So, I do not have any preconceived ideas about this subject.

I would like to add to this thread the following:

What do you feel are the features of the packages that we have discussed (even those we have not discussed) that make them more useful than any other package. I do not think that this should be a negative, just back up what you say with something substantial.

Any positive comments?

By the way, If this is not the place to have this professional discussion, then where would that place exist? I really enjoy this forum. Heck, I have enjoyed this thread more can you can imagine be we need to keep this positive moving forward.

Chris