How to use stress analysis in Autodesk Inventor to test your parts.

This is an intro to Autodesk Inventors stress analysis feature.  When making parts and assemblies it is extremely important to know where the critical stress and fail points are in your design.  The stress analysis feature removes the guesswork and over engineering in your design.  

The two things needed to start this process is a Inventor Part or Assembly file, and some estimated or actual calculated input forces for your part.

Let's start by opening your Inventor part file.

Step 1: Starting a stress analysis

To start a new stress analysis go over to ENVIRONMENTS tab on your ribbon, click on it and on the left side of your screen you will see the stress analysis feature (rainbow colored cube).  Click on the icon and then click on create simulation.  That will bring up a screen of initial settings.  You can choose a static analysis or modal analysis.  

The simple definition of static would be your main input force which is not affected by time/temp/atmospheric pressure.  Modal is dynamic forces (vibration) that will have secondary effects on your part. 

For this trial we are going to use a static stress analysis.  Select it and click OK.