Finding a contract FEA source

[HemiBuell]

I work for a small medical device company and we are about to look for a outside FEA source for some dynamic and static analysis.

Anybody know how to find such a thing?

Have any of you worked with people like this? Any tips?

I used to do a lot of FEA in the past, would a outside source allow me to sit down with them and do the analysis?

We are just south of Boston so I assume this service should be readily available. A google searched turned up nothing.

-Chris

 

[Barry1961]

I would check with a near by college or look in yellow pages under laboratories testing.

Barry1961

 

[GBor]

I do this type of work and many of my referrals come from the various software companies that I represent. I would find a software package that I liked, contact them, and see if they have somone near you that they would recommend.

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[arto]

Try the ANSYS East Guys in Rhode Island:
ANSYS East
6 Blackstone Valley Place,
Suite 402, 2nd Floor
Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865
phone: 401.333.2800
fax: 401.333.2790

They're "Wicked Smaht"

 

[GBor]

I wasn't commenting on the FEA company being close, but that most of the better known packages have users all over the country...certainly in the Boston area. Find a package that you want to learn, call the company that produces the software to get some consultant names and then a consultant that will allow you to "look over his/her shoulder", or that will stay on the phone with you talking you through what to do.

If a company is going to be doing a lot of analysis, I generally recommend that they purchase the software and hire a consultant to help them "come up to speed" on emerging work, assuming they choose a package with which I am familiar.

I would say that having an FEA company within a few hours of you should be appealing. I'm sure ANSYS has a team of engineers that would help you learn what you need to do, and it would be part of their maintenance agreement, so you wouldn't end up paying for an additional consultant.

Of course, if you are only going to do this a couple of times a year for a short duration, the expense of the FEA packages and maintenace agreements aren't worth it...

Garland E. Borowski, PE

 

[HemiBuell]

I have done plenty of FEA in the past, this is not an exercise in learning a new skill. We just don't have the money to buy the software. Currently I do our calculations by hand and with Excel.

I would like to be present when the analysis is done simply because I am a control freak. I really don't like having to hand this off to someone else but it is the only option, other than some pirate software I have.

Didn't even think of contacting vendors to find one of there customers in our area.

I'm going to give Algor and Ansys a call.

Anybody have an idea of what this type of service should cost?

-Chris

 

[GBor]

How simple is the model? I'm assuming since you're not hand-calcing this one, it is more than a cantilever beam. You say static AND dynamic. On the same model? What element types do you expect? What kind of dynamic: Time History Integration, Frequency Response, Response Spectrum, etc.? Do you have all of the inputs available?

If you're such a control freak (your words) and have done a sufficient amount of this in the past, have you thought about trying to get a fully functioning demo, say 90 days and doing it yourself?

Do you have a CAD model? If so, what format and how accurate do you think it is? The bigger problems that I run into have nothing to do with the model and analysis...it generally has to do with the inputs.

The least you can expect is probably $3000.

 

[Cockroach]

You found them. Yellow pages and type in the name.

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[EddyC]

Some companies allow software to be rented.

 

[TheTick]

<

http://www.impactengsol.com>

Vince Adams literally "wrote the book".
<

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156690160X/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/002-0883787-5166466>

 

[ProEDesigner00]

I know of two fellows that are very good, own the software and do it independantly out of their home offices. Each guy specialises in different applications of FEA. I would be glad to give them your contact info if you would like to share it.

Norb.

 

[borjame]

There are several contract houses in Massachutesetts, you could try Belcan out in Lynn. The rate would need to be negotiated but plan on ~$80/hr. There's probably also CDI.

 

[bobfarmer]

Try TriMech Services Richmond VA

http://www.trimech.com

I think.

bobfarmer