What is Finite Element Analysis (FEA)?
By: Andrew Grasdal
As always, we love to talk about innovation at Bit Service. We’re always staying in the loop and ensuring our processes are up to industry standard. Sometimes, that means reaching ahead and trying out new and valuable methods to produce the best possible product. One of those things is finite element analysis, also referred to as FEA—a method that has been integrated into 3D modelling in the past couple of years. It gives us an abundance of information to present to our customers to get them the best possible result.
What is FEA?
FEA uses mathematical models to digitally stress test a design before it gets physically created. It helps simulate weight on a product to see where the design may need to be improved or what it’s limits are. You take a 3D model, put forces on it, and it will tell you what’s going to break. For example, if you design a shelf and put a heavy object on it, you would be telling the program that you’re putting 200 pounds on a shelf, and the program will tell you where there will be stress and where it will break. While this tool is valuable, it used to be incredibly expensive when 2D modelling was more common (around $50,000); now, it’s much more accessible.
When is it beneficial to use FEA?
Now that FEA is more commonplace and integrated into 3D modelling, it’s a valuable tool that can help you make decisions on how to build a product. It enables you to pick the best design for your product, as you can now test variations of a design to see which one will hold up under stress better. It’s also an easier way to present options to clients because you can present them with the information from the FEA. Some products might not need an FEA if there are no concerns about the weight or thickness of it, as those can just be made thicker and heavier, and thus don’t require analysis. But if you need to factor in a certain weight or specific thickness with the need to make it as durable as possible, an FEA is perfect.
Multiple different methods can be used to perform an FEA, but thanks to modern technology and 3D modelling, it’s never been easier and more cost-effective to use it in designs. The software used at Bit Service for modelling, called Autodesk Inventor, integrates FEA directly into it so that you can easily design something and stress test it all in one place.
Overall, the benefits of FEA vastly outweigh any potential negatives, especially because it’s integrated into existing modelling software, and it’s not time-consuming. The only time to not use FEA might be when a design doesn’t have anything restricting the size or weight of the design. We’ve got a skilled team well educated on how to analyze our products properly, and we’re excited to know that every day, innovative products are becoming more commonplace in the manufacturing industry.