SonoAnalyzer

Based on some great user feedback I've made these tweaks to the UI:

I've added two new Langevin transducers to the version 3 examples section. The first is a simple cleaning transducer based on the earlier version 2 model. The second is a basic welding transducer created from scratch in version 3.

The welding transducer serves to demonstrate two common issues, but first, some background on element types.

A common ultrasonics application involves driving several probe sonotrodes from a single large block. This arrangement allows for a significant step-up ratio and wide separation between the probe tips. This article goes step-by-step through the process of creating a model of such a system in SonoAnalyzer and optimizing its performance.

Announcing the release of a new SonoAnalyzer, version 2.3.2, in Pro, OE and Free editions. This is the fully-functional release of the new STEP multi-element model, which allows for a combination of multiple STEP files containing geometry, or a single STEP file containing the geometry for multiple components, or both. No matter how the component geometry is defined, different materials can be selected for each individual component.

As on the earlier beta version a simple demo model is included in the package, which will load when the model type is selected. This is a concept for an ultrasonic scraper with a common utility-knife blade clamped into an aluminium stepped sonotrode using two small screws. All four components are defined in a single STEP file and entered as three geometry sub-tabs in SonoAnalyzer (one tab for each material - the two screws are selected together on the third tab). Defining all four components in the same STEP file makes it simple to establish their relative locations.

Where multiple components are defined in separate files, they will not usually be correctly positioned. In this case new "Advanced" options allow for rotation and alignment of each individual part. This can also be used to add multiple copies of a component in different positions. Furthermore components need not necessarily be additive; if the special "Subtract" material type is selected then the component will be treated as a hole or slot in the other (solid) components.

Some further changes in the SonoAnalyzer graphics window for this new model type only. On the geometry view (after redraw, before analysis) and on the animation view (after analysis) the area on the left of the graphics window, normally used for a key on contour plots, now shows a list of materials used in the model. Click on any one of the material labels to show only that material, or click on the "All materials" label to return to the standard view of all components. This feature works alongside the existing sectional views (double-click on the graphics window to toggle through available sections) but the sectional view options are now also shown in the key on the left side of the graphics window.

Some deprecated features are not available in this model / version, notably external graphics using the CalculiX cgx program, .stl file import and the use of Netgen for mesh generation. If any users have a specific need for these please contact me to discuss your options.

To support the new analysis, new pro analysis servers are also required (designated v3, replacing the earlier v2 servers). For cloud-server users there is an option within SonoAnalyzer to request an upgrade - just click the OK button on the warning popup that appears when the new model type is selected with a v2 analysis server. For users of locally-installed analysis servers a new Windows binary is available to download from the Pro support packages page (FEAServer setup.exe version 3).

As always, if you find any issues please let me know. More details follow.

Announcing the long-awaited release of a new SonoAnalyzer Pro, version 2.3.0 beta. This introduces a new, much requested model type called "STEP multi-element". As the name implies this allows combining multiple STEP files containing geometry, or a single STEP file containing the geometry for multiple components, or both. No matter how the component geometry is defined, different materials can be selected for each individual component. As this is a beta release and the new model type is for SonoAnalyzer Pro only, new versions of SonoAnalyzer OE and Free will not be released this time.

To demonstrate the new model type a simple demo model is included in the SonoAnalyzer Pro package. This is a concept for an ultrasonic scraper with a common utility-knife blade clamped into an aluminium stepped sonotrode using two small screws. All four components are defined in a single STEP file and entered as three geometry sub-tabs in SonoAnalyzer (one tab for each material - the two screws are selected together on the third tab).

In the SonoAnalyzer graphics window there is an additional option for this new model type only: Single material display. On the geometry view (alfer redraw, before analysis) and on the animation view (after analysis) the area on the left of the graphics window, normally used for a key on contour plots, now shows a list of materials used in the model. Click on any one of the material labels to show only that material, or click on the "All materials" label to return to the standard view of all components. This feature works alongside the existing sectional views (double-click on the graphics window to toggle through available sections).

Some deprecated features are not available in this model / version, notably external graphics using the CalculiX cgx program, .stl file import and the use of Netgen for mesh generation. If any users have a specific need for these please contact me to discuss your options.

To support the new analysis, new pro analysis servers are also required (designated v3, replacing the earlier v2 servers). For cloud-server users there is an option within SonoAnalyzer to request an upgrade - just click the OK button on the warning popup that appears when the new model type is selected with a v2 analysis server. For users of locally-installed analysis servers a new Windows binary will be available to download shortly.

As always, if you find any issues please let me know. More details follow.

Announcing the long-awaited release of SonoAnalyzer version 2 - now available to download in the usual Pro, OE and Free editions. This is designated version 2.2.0. It includes dramatic improvements in performance and responsiveness on large models, several new features and many bug-fixes. As always, if you find any issues please let me know. Notable changes include:

Performance: Changes to the internal data structures and processing reduce load times by 50 to 90% on larger models.

New features: Auto-tune restored, new displacement contour options, new sectional views, improved control over startup and loading results from cache.

Bug-fixes: Several issues addressed.

   

More details follow.

A significant update release of SonoAnalyzer version 2 is now available to download in the usual Pro, OE and Free editions. This is the sixth(!) pre-release, or PR6. It includes some bug-fixes, some improvements to reduce memory usage and support for another auto-mesher: Gmsh. As always, if you find any issues please let me know. Notable changes include:

• Alternative mesher Gmsh to replace / complement Netgen when meshing user-provided geometry.
• Fixed a bug causing some analyses to fail when Windows was set to non-English regional settings.
• Reduced memory usage by reading displacement / stress data only for visible surfaces.
• Added new "High-frequency #4 user-defined" element. Length can be as small as 2mm - useful for small parts of multi-component analyses.
• New dialog allows user to clear old calculation files from remote FEA servers, including cloud servers (freeing disk space as required).

   

More details follow.

A significant update release of SonoAnalyzer version 2 is now available to download in the usual Pro, OE and Free editions. This is the fifth (and possibly final) pre-release, or PR5. It includes several useful new features particularly for the new user-geometry models and fixes some bugs. As always, if you find any issues please let me know. Notable changes include:

• Support for MS Windows 10 monitor scaling
• Better control of exported images
• Option to resume a consistent window size and location on restart
• 3D axis display
• New mouse controls on graphical display
• Import .stl (stereolithography) format files
• New job-handling and reporting system
• Performance improvements processing complex geometry

For full details, read on...