Replacement for ForceEffect, looking for software to create Free Body Diagram and Froce Analysis

[PWolfy]

I have been doing a lot of mechanisms that consists of linkages etc and looking for a software similar to ForceEffect where I can draw linkages, attach pivot points, attach cylinders, and then be able to apply a force that generates what my forces will be in other parts of the structure. I don't need stresses or deflections just a way to determine forces quickly. For me Autodesk ForceEffect was perfect but no longer available. Any assistant would be much appreciated. Thank You.

 

[FEA way]

Unfortunately, there’s no such software available for free (like Force Effect was). You can try Linkage which is really nice but doesn’t calculate anything (you can’t apply a force, plot accelerations and so on) - it only simulates operation of the mechanism. Then there’s Pyslvs-UI but it has some limitations and issues.

Btw. Force Effect was for beam/frame calculations and also doesn’t have any good free equivalent. Force Effect Motion is what you are talking about here.

 

[PWolfy]

Hello FEA Way, Force Effect was much more than a Beam/Frame Calculations, you could draw any FBD, apply forces and get an out put. I don't mind paying for a software that is equivalent to Autodesk Force Effect, but there does not appear to be any. I am surprise no company have developed a replacement since it was such a popular software.

 

[MintJulep]

https://psmotion.com/mechdesigner/feature/motion-mechanism-linkage-simulation-software

Take a look and see if that meets your needs.

 

[FEA way]

You can try STRIAN (free online structural analyser). It’s not as good as Force Effect (the one used for statics, not Force Effect Motion used for kinematics) but likely the closest equivalent. Then there are FEA and MBD programs that can give you the same outputs but with much more work because they are meant for way more complex stuff.