Best software to learn? 1

[ST111]

Hello. I am wondering if there is one software that is best to learn over others? Or is it really relevant? What I mean is would future employees be that bothered about not knowing a specific software, and more interested in the fact you understand finite element analysis and the underlying principles?

Thanks

 

[GregLocock]

OS FEA : Calculix is probably the best

$50 : LISA (that's what I use at home)

Incidentally I agree with someone above, you will probably not get a job in an FEA group if you have merely mastered any of the bundled packages in a CAD suite.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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[rstupplebeen]

This thread inspired me to write a blog post pointing you to the Free Abaqus Student Edition

This version exactly like the commercial code except for a limit in node count. It does include the manual and tutorial which has always been a major advantage of Abaqus. This way you are learning on a commercial code with fully transferable skills.

I hope this helps!
Rob


Rob Stupplebeen
Rob's Engineering Blog
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[IceBreakerSours]

Just saw an FE job opportunity at Apple posted on imechanica with Abaqus/ANSYS in the preferred software skill-set. So, if you are a registered student, then student or academic versions of the major codes will be an option.

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[ThomasH]

Hi again

I think that for a student to find academic licenses may not be a big problem. But going back to the original question, "Best software to learn"?
That is singular if I understand it correct and I would say it requires some specific information. Some software's are huge in one industry and more or less non-existent in another. Also, are we discussing solvers or pre-post software? I use Femap with Nastran and it would probably be easier to change the Nastran part than the Femap part.

Like I already mentioned, for a new engineer, I think that knowledge in the methods rather than in a specific GUI would be valuable. For a more experienced engineer a company would probably expect knowledge in one or more of the commonly used codes for the particular industry.

My impression is that the OP is at the beginning of a career rather than a more experienced user. So I don't thing he/she should be to hung up on the name of the software but rather on how it works. Of course, if the ambition is to work at company X or a specific industry it is a good idea to find out what software they use.

Good Luck

Thomas