Stress Calculation Plug-In For SketcUp -- Are There Any?

[fcborik]

Hello,

I'm undergoing the design of a house remodeling project, and some of my ideas to confront certain design challenges would benefit from a stress analysis of the particular component of interest. In searching the web and these forums, I found a reference to something called GoSimulate, which seemed to have just the things I wanted: Use of an existing SketchUp model, put in some force and material parameters, and you get a really nice stress analysis in color. Admittedly, my models are fairly simple, and I could probably grind out a first order analysis by hand. But it sure would be nice to have a program do it automatically with the von Mises yield areas shown in 3D. At any rate, I looked up GoSimulate and went to the EnMesh web site, but only found downloads for "Space Claim" and "IronCad" (whatever those are). Alas, no SketchUp plugin. So, is there something with similar capabilities that does not cost an arm and a leg? Just want to check this out before I go back to my graph paper and slide rule.

Thanks!

Frank

[mac1]

Another link http://sketchupfordesign.com/tutorials/analyze-this-creating-geometry-for-structural-analysis-in-sketchup/

[mac1]

nother http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/sketchup/6VTTW0ZLKzM. You have Pro and Gosimulate lite is free may be you can make it work.

[fcborik]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. After a bit of snooping around, I determined that if I wanted to use GoSimulate Lite, that I needed to find the SU plugin. The older websites said that there was a beta version somewhere out there, but I could not find anything after about 20 minutes. So I quit walking down that path. Fortunately, you led me to another website, SketchUp Sage. I was able to browse for a few other CAD analysis programs and found something called Gazelle. The only hitch was that I needed something called an .stl format. Following that thread, I came across a SU plugin from Dieder Bur in the Plugin Store that was an stl importer/exporter. So after downloading the required plugin, I found out I was in business. After I remembered that I had to to explode my component in order for the .stl to export properly, I was in business!

Now, the only drawback is that there is scant documentation (like -- none!) for the Gazelle software, and it's not particularly intuitive. Their help consists of an e-mail address. I guess you get what you pay for.

Thanks again, for your help!

Frank

[Krisidious]

I believe the "Legacy Plugin" is here. along with the new suite of programs.

https://openstudio.nrel.gov/downloads

[mac1]

Kristoff; Cool looking site!
NREL is thermal analysis centric and although FEMA is used for that does this support stress analysis? Looking at it quickly I'm not smart enough to know

[jim smith]

I found this "structural analysis" from a post last year by target 2427. He was planning to update it , hasn't yet but it seems to have some basic functions you might find useful

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48390#p445903

[jgb]

I sent the following email to Enmesh yesterday.......

Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 11:12 PM
To: info@enmesh.se
Subject: [Enmesh.com contact form] Go-Sim Lite for SketchUp V8 Free

Joel Berson sent a message using the contact form at
http://www.enmesh.se/contact.

I've seen a video of Go-Sim on SU, but I find no reference to that version on
your product offerings.

Does it still exist?
How do I get a copy?

Thanks
jgb

=================================
And their reply.................

Hi!

Unfortunately, there is no version available SketchUp. It was only developed as a demo a few years back. The only plugins available are for SpaceClaim and IronCAD.

Sincerely yours,
Jonas Niklasson, Enmesh

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Bummer