Modern Machine Shop

AUG 2017

Modern Machine Shop is focused on all aspects of metalworking technology - Providing the new product technologies; process solutions; supplier listings; business management; networking; and event information that companies need to be competitive.

Issue link: https://mms.epubxp.com/i/850702

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 81 of 172

mmsonline.com August 2017 MMS 79 FEATURE will experience under load during operation. It starts by dividing the component into small ele- ments with simple geometries and defined mate- rial characteristics and boundary conditions (how they are constrained from moving). After solving differential equations for them to determine how each individual element behaves under load, the elements are essentially joined together to derive an equation that describes the entire component to approximate how it will perform under load. Mr. Teixeira uses Solidworks Simulation 2017 FEA software, the latest version of an FEA pack- age he began using in 1998 and continued using at a few different companies he worked for until purchasing a personal copy in 2008 when he began his FEA engineering consultancy business. "Having FE A and solid-modeling CAD in one software package makes it easier to tune design features," he says. "In addition, a large percentage of our customers use Solidworks, so having access to their native files enables me to more easily tweak and justify specific features." Even with this capability, he starts by perform- ing initial calculations (known as first-order cal- culations) by ha nd to approx imate what the range of results produced via subsequent FEA Here is an example of a fixture designed to hold a small printed circuit board that was refined using FEA to ensure it generates the appropriate clamp- ing force for machining. That force is generated by simple deflection of the Delrin fixture's 0.125-inch-wide center beam feature.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Modern Machine Shop - AUG 2017