PTC Creo is one of the leading parametric CAD tools used by engineers and designers to create and perfect new products. CAD software has always been an integral part of any product development process; however, until recently, it was primarily used during the initial design phases. New advances have expanded the use of this software to assist with optimizations throughout the entire design process.
In the past, manufacturers had to rely almost exclusively on real-life physical tests to ensure the functionality and durability of their products. Testing the physical properties of a new product was tedious, costly, and time-consuming. Even minimal changes to a design required producing new prototypes and retesting. Fortunately, advances in simulation software have reduced the need for physical testing. These tools are being deeply integrated into the CAD platforms engineers are using to simplify product testing.
Simulation: A Necessity for Staying Competitive
Simulation allows users to run virtual tests on products as they are developing them. Physical loads and forces can be virtually applied and tested, saving the time and costs associated with physical tests. Simulation is crucial for today’s manufacturers because it can be used throughout the development process, from the initial conceptual stages to tweaking a design after receiving consumer feedback.
However, while simulation software does significantly cut down on physical testing and the associated costs, it can still be time-consuming. Mimicking the real world requires a significant amount of computing power. Testing several design iterations can require running a simulation each time even minor changes are made with conventional software packages. As a result, testing typically occurs in the latter stages of the design process when a significant amount of money has been sunk into the original design.
Using advanced physics, analysts test and validate models just before final physical prototyping – by which time 90% of product costs are already baked in.
PTC has developed PTC Creo Simulate Live to solve this dilemma, which allows designers, analysts, and engineers to conduct simulations on their products much more rapidly and includes other powerful and unique features.
PTC Creo Simulate Live: Time Saving Simulation Software
PTC Creo Simulate Live Features
Creo Simulate Live offers a host of unique features designed to streamline simulation:
Real-time simulation results: Simulation results are created in real-time as changes are made to designs, providing engineers and designers the information they need to make quick and informed decisions throughout the entire development process.- Next-generation simulation technology: Advanced meshing tools combine with better ANSYS integration for even more accurate results.
- Consolidated user environment: Design and simulation can be conducted in the existing and familiar Creo CAD environment, which means lower technology overhead costs.
PTC Creo Simulate Live Benefits
Creo Simulate Live makes it possible for your organization to:
- Reduce costs associated with prototyping and testing
- Reduce the time it takes for a product to get on the market
- Reduce the need for training and learning a new platform
- Optimize quality, performance, and durability of new products
- Allow engineers to take greater risks in their designs to cultivate innovation
PTC Creo Simulate Live will significantly simplify the design and testing process for your organization. Since users are already used to the functionality of the Creo CAD interface, it’s easy for them to quickly adapt to this new technology. As a result, the entire development process is optimized. Tests can run while new designs are drawn, and design and testing can effectively be rolled into a single process. Making changes to a product in the early stages of development also ensures quality, performance, and durability optimization.
Simulation in the initial stages of product design makes it easier for designers to find issues earlier and fix them sooner, ultimately cutting down on considerable rework and prototyping costs.
Catching problems in later stages of the design process is always much more costly than addressing them early on. Likewise, simulation can also reduce the “cost of change.” This is especially true when a product requires modification due to poor quality and defects after being produced and distributed.
Problems discovered midway through the design process can be 20-100X more expensive to deal with than if found and dealt with earlier.
Perhaps most intriguing, integrating simulation into the early stages of the design process can support greater innovation. Engineers are risk-averse and often hesitant to think outside the box when creating new products – especially when the tried and true methods have always worked. Simulation gives engineers a solid idea of how a product will perform early in the design process while also supporting increased creativity and innovation. This is a requirement for staying competitive in today’s marketplace.
Engineers are trained to be cautious. PTC Creo Simulate Live allows them to get the answers they need in seconds.
PTC Creo Simulate Live: Stay Competitive and Create Better Products
Completing simulation early and often in the design process is necessary for any manufacturer that wishes to stay competitive and drive innovation. Implementing simulation helps reduce the cost of development by reducing the time and money spent completing tests on physical prototypes. By leveraging the results of real-time simulation, engineers can get advanced products to market faster.