New PolyWorks V11 Module for Rapid Finite Element Meshing

By DE Editors

InnovMetric Software Inc. (Quebec City,  Canada), a supplier of 3D metrology solutions for engineering and manufacturing, will demonstrate a pre-release version of PolyWorks V11 at EuroMold 2008, a trade fair to be held December 3-6 in Frankfurt, Germany. PolyWorks V11 is planned for release in the first quarter of 2009.

PolyWorks V11 offers a new optional module to quickly generate quadrilateral meshes from digitized models. Today, customers that want to create quadrilateral meshes from point cloud data to perform finite element analysis need to go through a lengthy process of triangular mesh editing, NURBS surfacing, and finite element meshing until they can launch their FEA solvers. PolyWorks V11 proposes a novel approach based on CAD models.

With powerful engineering controls such as point pair correspondences and point motion constraints, users can now morph CAD models directly onto triangular models built from point cloud data. Morphed triangulations are then converted to quadrangle-dominant meshes and exported to Nastran format. No triangle editing or NURBS surfacing is required, which makes the new process an order of magnitude faster than existing workflows. PolyWorks’ new module particularly targets sheet metal simulation and fully supports material thickness and sub-assemblies.

With PolyWorks V11, InnovMetric goes beyond its point-cloud-based dimensional control and engineering analysis customer base, and makes solid incursions into statistical process control and probing-only applications. Among its most noticeable new features, PolyWorks V11 offers an integrated statistical process control (SPC) methodology, a mature probing solution with a new multiple coordinate system management, new part alignment techniques that resolve specific manufacturing issues, and several important GD&T functionalities,  including full support of datum mobility, composite feature control frames,  surface profiles, and color-mapping tools for analysis.

With PolyWorks V11, InnovMetric’s main objective is to enable interoperability between NURBS-based CAD modeling and polygonal modeling: users can now import CAD models in IGES and STEP formats, CAD models and digitized polygonal models can be combined in the polygonal world, and users can easily reconstruct a local section of a CAD model.

PolyWorks V11 also offers a revision of its reverse engineering workflow, resulting in speed and ease of use. Plus, a new NURBS surface-fitting engine is released,  which ensures greater surface smoothness and improved continuity between patches.

For more information, contact InnovMetric Software Inc.

Sources:  Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.