Simulation of fasteners and other component interfaces

[TheNewEd]

Hi everyone,

I downloaded Fusion a couple of days ago and I think I got a bit of a handle on how to create components, assemble them, check for interference, etc. (eventhough I still have to spend a couple of evenings to redo everything because I did not turn things into components early enough, but we are learning)

One piece that I'm very interested in is to use simulation to reduce weight in parts. In this particular case the optimization is based on rigidity. So I would like to simulate deflection of an assembly under a static load. Some of the parts in the model would have metal to metal interfaces as in a dovetail or a pin/axle with a brass bearing and others would have fasteners like a M8x1.5 machine screw.

Can fusion calculate deflections on an assemblies that are held together with screws, etc.

Are there any videos or pointers on this type of stuff. How about best practices, similarly to rules 1 and 2 (make things into components and name things)

Thanks!!

[tyler_henderson · Accepted solution]

Hi,

You can do exactly what you're asking for in Fusion 360.  Simulation in Fusion can calculate deflections on assemblies with bolted connections, but the important thing to know is you should suppress any "modeled" bolt/screw hardware and replace them with idealized bolted connections using the Bolt Connector command on the Constraint panel in the Simulation workspace.  This is more accurate because you can define the pre-load at each connection, and the actual modeled bolts won't have to be meshed.

Another thing to consider: you mentioned that you want to optimize your design for stiffness/rigidity.  You can use the Shape Optimization study in Simulation exactly for this.  That Study will only optimize one part at a time, but it takes into account any loads transferred from connecting parts, and you can still use the Bolted Connection command for your connectors.

Here is a Help article about Bodies and Components:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-E37B0456-A867-429F-BF69-6A4626DD31E7

And here is a Help page that discusses the Bolt Connector command here:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-CBF8B62A-2498-462E-97E8-604D570EE022

[TheNewEd]

This is great. Thank you very much!!