Simulation is a crucial part of Solidworks, and SimulationXpress is a vital tool for doing simulations. One of the most appealing aspects of SolidWorks is that it can create virtually any product. However, it’s not always clear if a product will maintain its authenticity after it’s made public. Computer-based design validation software, such as SolidWorks SimulationXpress, has made it easier to examine how your product responds to everyday use.

Users of SOLIDWORKS may benefit from SimulationXpress’s simple first-pass stress analysis tool. SimulationXpress can help you save money and time by validating your designs on a computer rather than doing costly and time-consuming tests.

For instance, you could wish to investigate the consequences of applying force to the faucet. SimulationXpress is software that simulates the design process and generates stress results. It also displays crucial locations and safety levels in various faucet zones. Based on these findings, you can reinforce vulnerable areas while removing material from overdesigned areas.

SimulationXpress is a simplified version of SolidWorks Simulation. Learning how to use Solidworks SimulationXpress is an excellent way to perform a comparison study to determine whether the strength of your design has increased or not and to make improvements toward a better design.

Why do you simulate using SimulationXpress?

After completing your design in SOLIDWORKS, you may face questions: Will the product be based on the design portion break? Is it going to deform? Another point to consider is how we might utilize fewer materials without compromising performance. We can only solve these questions through expensive and time-consuming product development cycles without simulation tools. Still, SimulationXpress can help you reduce costs by testing your model using the computer rather than on field tests. Learning how to use Solidworks SimulationXpress can help lower the number of product development cycles and help shorten the time to market. Finally, by simulating concepts and scenarios before making final judgments, SimulationXpress may help you improve your designs.

How to use Solidworks SimulationXpress?

The SimulationXpress wizard will walk you through defining fixtures, loads, and material parameters, analyzing the model and viewing the results. When you finish a step, the data is automatically stored, appears in the SimulationXpress study tree, and is accessible even if you close and restart SimulationXpress without closing the component document. You must save the part document for the simulation data to be kept. To learn how to use Solidworks SimulationXpress, follow the steps below:

Step 1:

‘To launch SimulationXpress, go to the Tools > XpressProduct dropdown menu and click SimulationXpress. 

You could also launch SimulationXpress by clicking the Evaluate tab of the command manager and clicking the SimulationXpress Analysis Wizard.

Step 2:

In a situation where this is your first time opening SimulationXpress on your computer, a pop-up will appear asking for a product code. Click on this link: https://my.solidworks.com/xpress to create an account or log in to get an activation code. You will do this only the first time you launch SimulationXpress. Once complete, the icon will launch the tool, and SimulationXpress will appear in the task pane.

Step 3:

The SimulationXpress wizard is simple and will walk you through every procedure step. Select your desired default system of units and a folder for saving analysis findings using the Options command. To begin the analysis, click the Next instruction. The SimulationXpress study tree and the SimulationXpress study tab are accessible underneath the FeatureManager design tree and graphics area.

After setting up your SimulationXpress tool, you can begin your analysis. Here is a guide to learning how to use Solidworks SimulationXpress analysis:

Step 1:  Applying Fixtures 

Fixtures allow you to create restraints that are always in place. Each constraint has multiple faces. Faces that are restricted are confined in every direction. To avoid analysis failure owing to rigid body motion, you must fix at least one face of the part. Click Add a fixture to apply fixtures—select faces to fix in the graphics area once the fixture property manager displays.

In the SimulationXpress study tree, the fixture is added to the Fixtures folder, and a checkmark shows next to Fixtures in the SimulationXpress wizard.

You can add a fixture or edit an existing one by clicking on Add a fixture or Edit an existing one. To remove a fixture from the study tree, right-click it and select Delete. You can also modify the fixture’s name by clicking-click the fixture’s name in the research tree and inputting the new name. You may edit it by right-clicking a fixture in the SimulationXpress study tree and selecting Change Definition. After this process, click the Next command to proceed. 

Step 2: Applying Loads

Loads allow you to apply force and pressure loads on model faces. Loads in SimulationXpress can be either in terms of “force” or “pressure.” 

To apply a force, go to the Force PropertyManager and click Add a force.

Select the required faces in the graphics section. Then choose Normal to apply the force to each specified face in the normal direction. You can apply the supplied force value to each face in its normal direction and choose a direction. Then, in the FeatureManager design tree, choose a reference plane and select the force units before entering the force value. Each face receives the set force value. The same procedure also applies when you want to apply pressure.

Step 3: Assigning Material

The material allocated to a component determines how it responds. SimulationXpress must know the elastic characteristics of the part’s material. You can choose a material from a material library to allocate to the component. SOLIDWORKS materials contain two properties: visible and physical (mechanical). SimulationXpress uses the physical attributes of the materials described in the SOLIDWORKS Material library. Isotropic, orthotropic, and anisotropic materials exist. SimulationXpress supports only isotropic materials.

Material can be assigned to a part and modified. To do so, you click the SimulationXpress wizard’s Material tab and click Choose Material. In the Material dialog rectangular box, expand the class of materials and pick material. Click Apply and Close after completion.

In the SimulationXpress wizard, the material displays a checkmark next to it. In the SimulationXpress research tree, the material is also displayed next to the part’s name. You may also assign a material by right-clicking the section in the SimulationXpress study tree and selecting Apply/Edit Material.

Step 4: Analyzing the Part

SimulationXpress cleans up the model before calculating displacements, strains, and stresses. You may use the default mesh parameters or adjust them to evaluate the component.

Step 5: Viewing the Results

You may see the results when you’ve finished the simulation. The current geometry, material, fixtures, and load findings are stored in the SimulationXpress study tree’s Results folder. Stresses, displacements, deformations, and strains are calculated by SimulationXpress and saved in the Results folder.

Step 6: Optimizing the part

After completing a stress analysis, you may use optimization analysis to discover the best value for one model dimension while meeting the criteria. You can, for example, determine the ideal length of a component such that the von Mises stresses do not exceed a certain threshold. The Design Study in SOLIDWORKS Simulation includes an optimization analysis. You may do an optimization study by selecting Optimize in the SimulationXpress wizard. After that, pick “Yes” and move on to the next step. 

The DesignXpress study is located beneath the graphics section. Choose a model dimension (design variable) to optimize the graphics area. Click OK when the model dimension appears in the Add Parameters dialog box. In the DesignXpress study, under Variables, enter the Min: value for the dimension’s minimum permitted value and the Max: value for the dimension’s maximum permitted value. When providing these variables, ensure they don’t conflict with any of the model’s other relationships. You can then select the criteria for Factor of Safety, Max Displacement, and Max Stress from the list under Constraints. Then input the minimum or maximum number for Factor of Safety, Max Displacement, or Max Stress. 

The purpose of SimulationXpress is to keep the mass as low as possible. When you click Run, the results will show in the Results View, and the model will update to reflect the best value. Optimizing your part is an optional process.

Conclusion

Learning how to use Solidworks SimulationXpress might seem like a confusing mess, but following the steps listed above is all you need. I hope this post was helpful and that you were able to get started with Solidworks SimulationXpress.