Just about every product consists of multiple parts connected by bolts, screws, pins, or springs to create assemblies. Different kinds of assemblies present different simulation challenges. Common to all of them, however, is the need to simulate the connectors that join assembly components – simulation that traditionally took a great deal of analysis knowledge and a lot of time. Dedicated analysts find assemblies difficult and time consuming to analyze, despite their specialized education and experience. For example, to simulate a pin connection – that is, a pair of mated cylinders connected by a dowel pin that permits or restricts rotation between the parts, such as might be used for a pair of pliers – a professional analyst used to have to model the pin that goes through the hinge cylinder and define the gap contact between the pin and the cylinder surface before starting the actual analysis. He also needed to know what size pin to use.

Design engineers, for whom the most important part of the day’s work is product design rather than simulation, aren’t specialist analysts. They are very busy people who don’t have the time to simulate connectors in the traditional way.

What if they don’t have to? What if the software they use is smart enough to do the tough parts for them?

That’s just what COSMOSWorks and COSMOSDesignSTAR can do. The programs contain virtual connectors that make it much easier and faster to analyze assemblies containing pin, spring, bolt and screw connectors. The concepts behind these virtual connectors are the same as those used by generations of dedicated analysts. COSMOS takes no shortcuts in accuracy. It offers a simple interface for the user, calling for straightforward input, while putting many of the tasks formerly performed by analysts into the software – providing complex, accurate results.