NEiNastran

[MechElement]

Does NEiNastran function as well as, or better than COSMOS with SolidWorks? I think when Nastran is combined with SWx, it's called NEiWorks.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[fkmeyers]

NEiWorks is a modeler for NEiNastran inside of SolidWorks. NEiNastran like MSC.Nastran works in a solver only mode and will work with other modelers like FEMAP or Patran. NEiWorks allows SolidWorks users to mesh, analyze (using NEiNastran or MSC or other nastran variants), and post process results inside of SolidWorks. As for COSMOS they have been integrated inside of SolidWorks for a while so I would expect they have more functionality now. Thay may not last for long though as I am seeing a lot of new stuff in the NEiWorks 1.1 beta version. I think Noran is gearing this product around aerospace and automotive Nastran customers that normally would not use COSMOS. What exactly do you need to do with it?

 

[MechElement]

I'm trying to get up to speed with things since I've been out of the loop for a couple of years working in Kuwait. I'm in mechanical design engineering. I had done mostly machines before I left for Kuwait. They were automated production machines and machine tool machines.

I'm sure there more important features I'll leave out, but I'm just not familiar with them at this point in time... I'd like the software to have linear static analysis, transient heat transfer, buckling analysis, heat transfer, nonlinear static analysis, dynamic response, modes, etc. A diverse selection of materials is a plus.

 

[fkmeyers]

These are all supported in the solver. The modeler is coming up to speed with these now but may not have all of them. For example you can do advanced dynamic analysis but you will need to set it up in their editor. You export the model and loading and set up the dynamic stuff in the editor they supply. They have told me they will have this all implemented in the next couple of months.

 

[MechElement]

I checked their website and it listed those features, plus a few more.

 

[kellnerp]

Better is a pretty vague term.

NEiWorks is integrated into SW. In that way it is very similar, but the breadth of the user interface is not quite up to CosmosWorks standards. For example assembly support is not quite there yet. On the other hand NEiWorks has, in my opinion, a lot more potential down the road. Because it outputs a text file that it feeds into the solver it is possible to do a lot of things that CosmosWorks cannot do. In addition it is possible to actually understand what is going on which is not possible in CosmosWorks. Because NEiWorks solver is not integrated into SolidWorks it is possible to run an analysis and still use CAD. This to me is a big plus. In fact you might even be able to run the analysis on another CPU from CAD and have several NEiWorks systems feed a central solver machine. The only Cosmos product that you might want to look at that can do this is DesignStar.

 

[fkmeyers]

I agree completely. I think they are making a lot of progress towards a better product and have seen a lot of features CosmosWorks does not have. Having said that, they still have a lot of stuff to put in but seem to be moving along nicely. I have been told the 1.1 release will be ready next month and includes complete assembly support with surface contact/welds/continuous meshing, etc. The fact that you can edit the bulk data file and run jobs remotely is a huge plus if you are a diehard nastran users like me.

 

[R1100S]

I'll weigh in and agree with everone else. NEIworks is getting better, but still isn't as integrated or as user friendly as Cosmos.

If you need full on Nastran, and still want a easy to use FEA program, Noran may be able to set you up with both NE Nastran, and NEIworks as a package deal.

 

[fkmeyers]

I have a beta copy of V1.11 and it looks very nice. They have expanded the material nonlinear and added a bunch of new stuff like enforced displacements, local coordinate systems, more contact options, etc. I would say that for what they have included it is better integrated than Cosmos but they still have more stuff to add. At least you can uncouple the solver and run it seperately. They seem to be moving fast with this product.