ANSYS DesignSpace file extensions

ANSYS DesignSpace is a powerful, yet easy-to-use simulation software package that gives product designers and engineers the power to conceptualize, design and validate all their ideas right on their desktops. Using Knowledge-Based Automation, this streamlined, user-friendly simulation tool is based on the same powerful ANSYS technology that has been resolving challenging design issues for more than 32 years.

Using DesignSpace, product design teams will produce better products in less time with fewer field failures. DesignSpace gives designers and engineers the ability to easily perform real-world, step-by-step structural, thermal, dynamic, weight optimization, performance optimization, vibration mode and safety factor simulations on all their designs. DesignSpace also includes the industry's best Web-based Report Generator.

DesignSpace is fully associative with the latest versions of major three-dimensional CAD packages, including: Autodesk Inventor, Solid Edge, Unigraphics, SolidWorks, Pro/ENGINEER, and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop. Plus, DesignSpace reads data from CATIA and common file geometry file formats like SAT, and Parasolid.

From single parts to complex and large assemblies, and even through to complete systems, DesignSpace turns 3-D CAD environments into a complete virtual product development system.

ANSYS DesignSpace - Product Guide

DesignSpace simulation functionality is organized into four different functionality bundles, additional Modules, CAD Plug-ins, and Kinematics connections that have been designed to meet the needs of particular groups of users. Below is a description of these bundles and a profile of the applications that these are best suited. You can click the hyperlink product name to see the feature detail of each bundle bundle below.

DesignSpace - Includes all of the functionality in DesignSpace Entra and adds simulation capability for assemblies utilizing automatic contact capability for rigid and sliding assemblies.

Additional functionality in DesignSpace:

• Automatic assembly setup with surface contact
• Linear assembly contact
• Manual contact properties manipulation
• Assembly/part feature accuracy
• Advanced assembly visualization
• Nonlinear contact

Advanced Functionality - With the ANSYS Workbench environment, DesignSpace users can benefit from seamless interoperability between up-front and full-scale simulation. Once projects are started in DesignSpace, they can easily be saved and opened by a more advanced ANSYS product that contains the required simulation functionality like: nonlinear materials, harmonics, large deformation or advanced contact.

Add-on Modules

DesignXplorer - The DesignXplorer is an application for understanding the analysis response of parts and/or assemblies. By understanding the analysis response, DesignXplorer can be used to:

• Create design and analysis charts
• Design new members of a family of parts
• Optimize a part for new conditions

DesignXplorer uses parameters as its basic language. These parameters can come from various CAD Systems or from the analysis. Structural and thermal responses can be studied, quantified, and graphed. A multiplicity of robust designs may also be obtained by means of a Goals-Driven method of optimization.

DM (DesignModeler) - DM is a geometry tool that allows basic geometry to be created, but most importantly enables models to be modified for simulation purposes. These modification features include, surface creation from solids, spot weld applications, surface dividing and more.

Fatigue Module - Most parts fail over time due to fatigue. The DesignSpace fatigue module allows you extend your simulation to include the performance over the required product life. Innovative result tools make this module very easy to use and, the results are easy to interpret. Download a Fatigue White paper Here

CAE Templates - To meet the need of the advanced users, CAE Templates allows engineers to leverage their design work and, through the use of its templating capabilities, easily advance their design investigation to ANSYS, MSC/NASTRAN, ABAQUS, or in-house codes. CAE Templates also assists engineers in automating the set-up and posting of results from advanced analysis studies.

Multiple Geometry Interfaces - If your company uses multiple CAD systems, multiple geometry interfaces may be used with your DesignSpace products and will provide you with associative simulation for most major CAD packages. Most importantly, when working in a multi-CAD environment, DesignSpace maintains the same operational look, feel and capability. This will minimize your training effort and establish common simulation methods that will permit confident results.