Check out Siemens' first article in their new blog series, Beyond the Forum. The ongoing series will highlight the champions and community members working in the forum mines day & night.

And in exciting news, the very first article features Applied CAx’s own Randy Ellsworth! Randy is known far & wide for his PLM prowess, but in this revealing Q&A, Randy talks about his early days as a painter in Eugene, Ore., his decade-plus as an enlisted sailor in the Navy, and how he came into the world of PLM.

Says Randy: “Most Teamcenter administrators fall into the job, coming from either Engineering or IT, and don’t necessarily choose it. It chooses them and I’m no exception as you’ll read later. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it and am extremely thankful for the experience and relationships I’ve built over the years.”  

For Applied CAx and Sherpa Design, Randy provides strategic consulting, aligning Teamcenter with business needs to generate an architecture, landscape and road map.

Learn more about Randy and his experience with Teamcenter in the full article.  

With 10+ years of experience, Adrian Jensen, PE, specializes in all things FEA and FEMAP: geometry modeling, meshing, analysis, post processing, and programming with the FEMAP API.

We recently caught up with Adrian and asked him to share some future plans with us...

 Powerful new enhancements are now available in the latest release of NX for manufacturing, our comprehensive solution for CAD, CAM, CMM, robotics and additive manufacturing.

 The new capabilities will help you be more productive, including:

• Create multi-step drilling tools automatically
• Leverage barrel tools for more efficient machining
• Regenerate 5-axis toolpaths almost instantaneously
• Validate robotic operation with G-code-driven simulation
• Multiple in-process workpiece (IPW) sources
• Print CSYS
• 2D Nesting

Another cool new feature involves adaptive milling, a high-speed machining method in NX CAM software that can reduce roughing machining time by up to 60 percent. In the latest version, NX provides a new function to generate tool paths with smooth engage and retract moves. Additionally, you can smoothen the transfer moves improving the overall machine performance. These new controls can help you further reduce machining time, minimize machine wear and extend tool life.

READ MORE 

Have you ever needed to access advanced NX features, but just didn't have the need — or the budget — to justify a purchase? Siemens has announced that starting this summer 2019, Value Based Licensing (AKA token licensing) will be available to those with floating NX Mach 1 licenses and above.

With over 50 different add-on modules available, this is a great option for folks wanting to explore & use other modules without wasting your budget on idle licenses.

From Trek to Hyundai, Airbus to ZF Wind Power, this issue is packed with customers showing how the digital twin provides them with not just the numbers, but also the knowledge to make better design decisions.

The automotive industry has long led the charge into increased digitalization and in this new issue Siemens shares the success of Opel, Hyundai and Volvo trucks. The simulation & design results achieved are impressive. Hyundai have been able to reduce vehicle tests by 40 percent, Electra Mecannica moved from concept and digitalization to road-ready in just 18 months, and Volvo Trucks are able to perform acoustic testing concurrently with other tests to save valuable time without compromising results.

It isn’t only the automotive industry that is benefitting from Simcenter solutions, Trek is one of the worlds’ largest cycle manufacturers, building over 1.5 million bikes each year. They have reduced the runtime on simulation models from six hours to just 22 minutes. Airbus helicopters demonstrate how they have reduced their testing commitment thanks to improved model accuracy from simulation and the US Military are reducing costly corrosion issues with the digital twin.

In Issue 2:

• Cordesa: The cost of corrosion
• Opel: Frontloading CFD in the thermal management of an automotive headlight
• ZF Wind Power: Harnessing the power of the wind
• Electra Meccanica: Electric Automotive manufacturer uses Simcenter and NX
• Trek Bicycle: Design space exploration
• Airbus Helicopter
• Hyundai Motor Company
• Volvo Trucks
• How to…assess the aircraft cabin cooling sizing
• Geek Hub: frying and egg on a CPU

Download Engineer INNOVATION now!

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Congratulations to our Teamcenter architects Randy Ellsworth and Arden Bedell! They recently completed 3 trainings conducted by Siemens PLM to further their knowledge of Active Workspace Client (AWC).

The trainings ran over the course of a few weeks and they successfully completed the following instructor led courses:

• Using Active Workspace (4.1) training
• AWC Installation and System Administration
• Configuring and Customizing AWC

To reach more users, across functional boundaries, Active Workspace provides access to Teamcenter from familiar office and design applications, and any web browser. You don't have to install the application to have access … or have your computer. From a tablet or smartphone you can review product information, or participate in PLM workflows like design reviews or engineering changes. People across your business — from executives to the shop floor — can use Active Workspace to search as easily as they shop online and gain the insight and information of PLM.

For more on Active Workspace, please visit Siemens PLM.

KLK Motorsports uses Simcenter STAR-CCM+ with workflow automation to explore supercar aerodynamic design.

Performance vehicles need to be pushed down onto the track to enable faster cornering, while also creating minimal drag for faster straight-away speed. The challenge is that devices generating downforce, such as wings, also increase drag.

To be competitive, the highest lift-to-drag ratio needs to be found. To impact racing times, aerodynamic engineers need quick feedback on possible design modifications. For simulation, this means complete process from CAD to results, including design changes, needs to be as fast as possible.

FEA outsourcing dilemma

As FEA consultants for 20+ years, we’ve seen projects from the huge to the itsy-bitsy. A recent small project came in to re-run the numbers for a returning partner. A proposed process change was threatening to ripple through their workflow and potentially domino into a costly overhaul.

They were asked by a customer to increase the preload torque of their fasteners. This was a concern as changing the preload torque would require a change to their manufacturing process. But changing the manufacturing process is a great way to introduce errors, which could be catastrophic.