FEMAP vs NX CAE? 1

[skanskan]

Hello

Is NX using FEMAP as its CAE or is it a reduced version of it?
What are the differences?

regards

 

[JohnRBaker]

FEMAP is a different product than either NX Advanced Simulation or NX Design Simulation, however in all cases these are simply Pre- and Post-Processors, or FEM products. None of them are an FEA Solver in and of themselves, although in all cases you can optionally include NX Nastran when you purchase a license, which will then give you a fully integrated FEM/FEA product where you prepare your simulation models (Pre-Process), perform the analysis (Solve) and then display the results in a manner which shows the user how the model performed and if there are areas where changes might need to be made (Post-Process).

The biggest differences are that FEMAP was developed as a standalone FEM product which can take models from many different CAD systems as the starting point when setting-up (Pre-Processing) an analysis simulation, submit the model to the solver and then display the results (Post-Process), while the NX products are fully integrated with NX where it's basically designed to leverage the existing NX model(s) when preparting for an analysis run and then displaying the results, again in a fully integrated manner within the NX environment.

In either the FEMAP or the NX case, the solver can be either NX Nastran (obviously the preferred situation) or some other 3rd party analysis product.

As to your original question about whether NX is based on FEMAP, the answer is NO. FEMAP and the NX Simulation products were developed separately in order to address two different markets. Granted, the technology of both products are owned by Siemens PLM Software and as such there is cooperation between the development groups and where practical, common tools and research efforts are shared, but only to the extent that it does not distract from what the two product's primary market focus is.

This approach was taken because we recognized that there are potential clients who are looking for both fully integrated solutions and ones where more flexibility is desired or where there is no choice but to seek and implement CAD-independent solutions.

Now I don't know if this provided you with the answer that you were looking for or not, but considering the limited and cryptic nature of the question, this is about the best that I can do. If you need to follow-up, please don't hesitate...

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[skanskan]

Thanks for your long explanation.

Then, what FEA Solver are using NX Advanced Simulation or NX Design Simulation if you haven't acquired the Nastran license?

 

[JohnRBaker]

With the NX Simulation modules, you get a built-in, integrated version of 'NX Nastran' as part of the deal. You can still opt to use a different 3rd party solver if you wish to, but it's not necessary unless you're doing something very special where Nastran is not suitable.

With FEMAP, it comes in two flavors, one with and one without NX Nastran.

For more information about FEMAP in general, go to:

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/velocity/femap/features/index.shtml

For FEMAP with NX Nastran, go to:

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/velocity/femap/nxNastran/index.shtml

For a general review of NX CAE with links to more detailed product areas, go to:

http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/nx/simulation/index.shtml

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

UG/NX Museum:

http://www.plmworld.org/p/cm/ld/fid=209

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.