Mechanical Technology

Mechanical Technology — April 2016

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Computer-aided engineering

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Above:

Click2Cast offers the easiest casting

process simulation on the market, requir-

ing neither special training nor an extensive

technical user background.

Left:

Altair has released HyperWorks

14.0,

its latest open architecture CAE simulation

platform.

Right:

A FEKO model of a single antenna for

the SKA project.

now available, offering unprecedented

enterprise-scale value.

Click2Cast

offers the easiest cast-

ing process simulation on the market,

requiring neither special training nor an

extensive technical user background. It

is a very effective and powerful design

tool, and provides high value at the

critical intersection of manufacturing and

product design.

In addition, the

Altair Partner Alliance

(APA)

continues its portfolio expansion of

third-party technology with applications

from over 45 strategic partners. These

are directly accessible using HyperWorks

Units in domains including: durability

and fatigue, NVH, 1D systems simula-

tion, injection moulding simulation,

composite modelling, stress analysis,

materials libraries, thermal analysis, and

rapid prototyping.

The Hannover showcase

The latest versions of HyperWorks 14.0;

its concept design and optimisation

tools solidThinking Evolve

and Inspire

2016; and new design processes for

the development and manufacturing of

innovative products are to be showcased

at Hanover Messe in Munich on April 27.

In addition, Altair will host:

‘ATCx AM

–Design for Additive Manufacturing’

conference included in the overall CAE

Forum programme.

The Altair programme features an

afternoon filled with presentations from

partners such as Laser Zentrum Nord,

Materialise, and voxeljet – as well as

customers such as EDAG and RUAG

Space. These companies will present

technologies and solutions for additive

manufacturing – from design to actual

3D printing.

The entire development and manu-

facturing processes of a cast aluminium

component will be showcased, jointly

with Altair partners, HBM nCode and

voxeljet. The component was designed

and optimised with Inspire, then nCode

DesignLife was applied to conduct a fa-

tigue analysis and, finally, solidThinking’s

Click2Cast software was used to simulate

and optimise the casting process.

The created design resulted in a cast-

ing form, 3D-printed by voxeljet. Thanks

to the nature-inspired optimised design

created with Inspire and the application

of a 3D-printed cast form with voxeljet

solutions, manufacturers can now benefit

from the design freedom 3D printing

offers, while benefitting from series-

production readiness and higher cost

efficiencies.

In addition, the resulting component

outperforms traditionally manufactured

parts. Depending on the load case, the

new component was three to five times

stiffer, without additional weight.

Altair will also highlight its solu-

tions for laser additive manufacturing

methods together with Laser Zentrum

Nord. Throughout 2016, the companies

are offering training for engineers and

designers to learn how to develop and

design state-of-the-art 3D-printed metal

products. The companies also collaborate

on projects for various customers from

different industries, such as automotive

and aerospace, and will present case

studies resulting from this cooperation.

“We are happy to welcome HBM

nCode and Laser Zentrum Nord at our

booth,” says Mirko Bromberger, director

of marketing and additive manufacturing

strategies at Altair Engineering. “Both

companies are important partners for

development and production, especially

with regards to new development and

manufacturing processes. Visitors of

Hannover Messe can expect a very broad

and informative programme, highlighting

solutions for the different production and

engineering disciplines.”

In the course of the CAE Forum at

Hannover Messe 2016, Altair will or-

ganise and moderate the symposium:

‘Design for Additive Manufacturing’

featuring presentations about: structures

inspired by nature for 3D printing; key

aspects of design for additive manufac-

turing; development processes for the

innovative manufacturing of mould com-

ponents; part optimisation by 3D print-

ing; and design case studies involving

space structures and pressure valves.