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Some Issues with HWX 2020.1

I don't get time to log in to post on these forums like I used to before and sorry for posting these issues here. They are my observations rather than questions.

In HWX 2020.1 (not installed Hotfix 2020.1.1 or HWX 2020.2 yet), points (vertices or seed/hard points) on the geometry don't appear unless I go in to specific Geometry related function/command like split operation. No matter what view or settings (i.e shaded or transparent), the points just refuse to appear. I explored settings in details but not able to find if any specific setting is turned OFF by default for the above to happen. I did not recall the above specific behaviour in 2019.

Please revert to either 2019 setting or the default classic HW/HM setting. In my case, I find that points help me decide where I need to splits to get better mesh quality or density etc. If I have fastener seed points, they don't appear unless I go to some specific Geometry operations. As of now, it is quite frustrating to work with HWX 2020 and legacy HW/HM lacks the ease of Geometry manipulation that HWX brings in.

Also, HWX is not optimised in terms of memory consumption at all. Even with a relative high-end workstation (128GB RAM, 4GB Video Card, Xeon scalable processors), performance of some models is laggy. Hate to bring in comparisons, but the same models opened in competing FEA programs are much more smoother.

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Adriano Koga_20259

for points, you can toogle them on, here:

Are you using the latest graphic cards driver? sometimes it can help to update your graphics card drivers.

QuyNguyenDai

You write "HWX 2021.1" really?

My workstation has also 128G ram + 4G Nvidia quadro card, and I have never issue with (classical interface) Hypermesh from 2015 until 2020.1.1. My workstation runs under Linux.

I you have some "issue" with HWX, maybe try HW (classical version) for comparing?

Burner2k

Adriano,

Thanks for pointing it that option out. Missed that one and will try enabling.

Q.Nguyen-Dai, yeah...that 2021 part was a typo. My workstation has an AMD FirePro card...not sure if that's the issue but I've tried opening the same model in HW (legacy) and although the graphical performance is better compared to HWX, it still feels laggy compared to the performance of the same model opened in a different FEA pre-processor. And yes, my graphical drivers are updated to the most recent one...

QuyNguyenDai

Check your graphic card in Hardware suppored list of Altair Hyperworks. I work only with Nvidia Quadro pro and I have never issue.

Burner2k

Adriano, I am able to see points/vertices after enabling/toggling the function you suggested.

Secondly, on my Windows 10 v2004 with HW 2020.1, all HM files are missing thumbnail previews in Windows Explorer. Prior to this, I was using Windows-7 & HW 2019.1, was able to display thumbnail previews for all HM files in Explorer.

Also, tried HWX 2020.1 in a workstation with 192GB Memory & Quadro K6000 card (which is considered high-end by Altair support) and still having issues regarding fluidity especially during model rotation.

I love the ease of Geometric manipulation in HWX but as of now, it is not a very well optimized product. It takes up to a sec or two (sometimes more) to bring up various functions/dialog boxes up on clicking. I know it is still WIP product, but it is extremely inconvenient to switch between HWX & HW in the middle of a workflow. Will be there another point release (2020.2?) or will Altair release 2021 release next?

QuyNguyenDai

I don't use HWX, but classical interface HW.

My laptop Windows 10 (16 GB ram) with Quadro Nvidia 4GB ram and HW works very well. I have never issue with HW, even with 200-300 MB model.

Burner2k

Firstly, stil using HW 2020.1 version. Couple of questions:

1. Lets say if I want to isolate just the red lines in my geometry...in HWX how is it done? In legacy HM, using visualization tab one could switch off or on the type of lines they want. Not able to locate where the visualization tab in HWX is.

2. Where in HWX/HW can I get mesh statistics? Ex: Want to know how many tria elements I have in my grid etc.

Adriano Koga_20259

Firstly, stil using HW 2020.1 version. Couple of questions:

1. Lets say if I want to isolate just the red lines in my geometry...in HWX how is it done? In legacy HM, using visualization tab one could switch off or on the type of lines they want. Not able to locate where the visualization tab in HWX is.

2. Where in HWX/HW can I get mesh statistics? Ex: Want to know how many tria elements I have in my grid etc.

1. Preferences >> Colors

2. For mesh statistics, you have a few scenarios:

If you use the 'references' option in the component browser, you will able to check everything that is related (cross-reference) with this/these component(s)

Another way is using the classic tools, such as Quality Index (for counting trias) and 'summay' panel, using 'elements' template

Burner2k

Hi Adriano,
Thanks for the prompt answers. Have a few more follow up questions...

I have a tube/line which is not aligned to any of the principal axes of the global axis. I want to represent this tube using 1D BAR/BEAM elements. I have created a custom coordinate system in which, the X-axis of the local co-ord aligns with line.

In HWX, I tried the new 1D mesh/beam functionality and the auto align feature is super useful, quick & easy. But the elements created are not associated with the underlying support line, even though this line was chosen during the generation process. This kinda becomes inconvenient because if I want to connect something else (like a rigids) to them beam/bar elements, I'll have to chose the individual elements. Anyways, just another suggestion I guess is to improve 1D meshing process in HWX/HM

I was thinking of a list of features which would help better the experience in HW/HWX:

1. Improved Geometry Clean Up:
> Please introduce option to clean-up chamfers. Current practice of removing chamfers is tedious
> Not sure if current HW/HWX supports clean-up of "cliff" fillets. Most of the geometry I receive are in STEP or IGS format; depending up on the geometry, some to many of the fillets are not removed by de-featuring operation. Worse, many a times, the de-featuring operation removes a fillet but fails to remove adjacent one leaving the geometry at the intersection in a messed up state

2. Improved visualization options:
> Please provide option to make individual parts/components have partial-transparency turned ON (current options are limited to shaded or 100% transparency...an option to have partial transparency with slider to adjust the value in terms of % would be helpful)

3. Improved Geometry creation tools: An option to create arcs and splines would be helpful.

4. Simplified Solver Cards creation: Since I use HW/HWX as a pre-processor for MSC/NX Nastran mainly, I would like Simplified input deck creation. Creating input deck for Dynamic and buckling analyses is a pain especially if one has a lot of load cases. It would be better if HW/HWX did most of the work like how some of the native pre-processors like MSC Patran does.

Perhaps, I will add more suggestions as I find them...