MSC Software explains the importance of simulation software for AM

Design is extremely important for any manufacturing process. If you want to achieve the performance, cost and lead times enabled by additive manufacturing technologies, you should start with the right design. MSC Software, specialized in simulation software, enables engineers to design optimal products and validate them using established physics. Simulation software falls under CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) software; whereas CAD is for designing a product, CAE is for testing and simulating it. Essentially, you will be able to diminish the number of prototypes of your design and the overall development costs of your projects. In order to learn more about MSC Software’s solutions for AM, we spoke to Hendrik Schafstall, VP Virtual Manufacturing and Costing at MSC Software. He told us more about two products, Simufact Additive and MSC Apex Generative Design!

3DN: Can you present yourself and MSC Software?

Hendrik Schafstall

I lead our manufacturing business at MSC, developing software and solutions with our customers and partners to take the guesswork out of manufacturing. We believe manufacturing starts at the design stage, so we are applying our simulation tools from material choice through the engineering of parts to design for manufacturing cost and part performance. As part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, we are also connecting quality inspection data from metrology with ecosystem partners to advance data-driven manufacturing.

3DN: Which of MSC Software’s solutions are meant for additive manufacturing?

It really depends on what the customer is trying to achieve. The design phase is where the most value is created, and where key decisions are made that affect the cost and timescale of the final product delivery. For example, MSC is working in partnership with Danfoss and Markforged to predict how parts printed with composite materials will perform and optimise the build process.