Visi 2020.0 from Hexagon Improves Finite Element Analysis

The latest release of Visi CAD/CAM, from Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s Production Software business, is said to improve mold and progressive-die design processes. This release also enhances the Reverse module, specifically designed for the mold and die market.

Part unfolding technology has been introduced in Visi 2020.0, enabling work directly on the original solid part model without needing to extract the model’s skin. Sheet metal part recognition now provides an improved graphical representation of the part analyzed by identifying bends, planar faces and features. Product Manager Marco Cafasso says the software’s associativity with the original model during the die design process allows the original part to be edited and changes to be made automatically on the study of the part.

Enhancements to the Reverse module provide increased flexibility for reverse and casting processes. Among the features in the module are: clipping plane management for point scanning; planar face and draft analysis on mesh data; adaptation of mesh to boundary; and best fit.

A new Compare feature lets the user compare two entities, such as point clouds, meshes or solids, by checking the relative distance. The graphical results show different colors in reference to the distance ranges. This feature can also show the relative distance between the two selected entities during the comparison.

Visi’s Flow Analysis has been improved with new mesh group technology specifically designed for finite element analysis (FEA). It provides a high-quality mesh while reducing computation time by providing new options to adapt and fit the mesh accordingly to the model’s shape. Engineers can also graphically identify possible quality issues caused by flow hesitations, and then simulate alternative solutions. The Flow Thermal function has been updated with improved coolant flow rate suggestions.

The direct interface between Visi and MSC Software’s Digimat enables the export of data showing a material’s local rigidity for the structural FEA process.