3D Modeling & CAD for Motorsport: Step 3 - Analysis
Step 3 - Analysis
02.53
00:00 | - One of the key advantages of having our designs modelled in CAD software is the ability to understand the design in more detail, allowing us to quickly develop and optimise it before spending money on manufacturing. |
00:12 | What we want to know about our part will depend on the intended application so like the other steps in this design process, there's naturally going to be some variation with different parts. |
00:24 | Although the analysis step comes after the CAD modelling phase, because we need some form of model to analyse, these will generally be done simultaneously to some degree. |
00:35 | Just having a visual representation of our design in our workspace goes a long way to understanding if it will achieve the desired outcome. |
00:44 | With a 3D model created, there's a range of general CAD analysis tools at our disposal. |
00:49 | At the more basic end of the spectrum, the measurement tool can help us check the geometry we've created to ensure it's as we intended. |
00:58 | By setting the material and therefore defining the density, we can quickly find the mass of the part as well as the location of the centre of mass which as we know, are key areas of interest in performance automotive applications. |
01:12 | Section views are a quick way to cut the part down a plane to view internal geometry that would otherwise be concealed. |
01:20 | In addition to this, there's a group of more specific CAD analysis tools that can be helpful depending on the purpose of our design and required manufacturing process. |
01:31 | For example, the draft analysis tool for highlighting areas that may cause concern with injection moulded or cast parts. |
01:38 | The minimum radius tool to determine the minimum tool size for machined parts or the interference tools for locating and removing areas of interference between components in an assembly. |
01:51 | These tools help us identify potential issues that'll come from manufacturing our design and then make the changes earlier to avoid wasting the time and money. |
02:01 | A more involved method of analysis is the use of FEA to simulate how our design will respond to real world forces. |
02:09 | We can use FEA to understand a range of different physical responses to different forms of loading. |
02:15 | Such as structural stresses, thermal transfer and fluid flow around solid surfaces. |
02:21 | This process involves specifying the material, defining constraints, applying the loads and then generating the mesh to divide the model into smaller, more simple elements that can be solved individually and then brought together to find the overall result. |
02:37 | All the analysis tools we have available are useful for developing and optimising our designs, however they won't do all the work for us so what's really important is how we interpret the results and what changes we make. |