Equivalencies between Solidworks Simulation and Inventor Nastran

Hi,

I'm working on a project to implement Autodesk Inventor as our main CAD package. This is largely down to iLogic functionality being great for what we want to achieve, alongside the economics of paying roughly the same for Solidworks as we do for AutoCAD, Revit, and Inventor.

The stumbling block is FEA. We're struggling to find equivalencies for how we set up our models for simulation in Solidworks, within Inventor Nastran.

We believe a block model that is created for load distribution within Solidworks isn't needed within Nastran, and that we need to apply gravity manually. Those are the two things we're pretty sure we're right on.

We're unsure what to do about the Virtual Wall within Solidworks, as there isn't an option within Inventor. We do currently think the solution is to model a plate and constrain the Inventor model to that- but better ideas are welcome.

We are also struggling with replicating the constraints on the holes at the top of our geometry. I did originally think a pin constraint within Nastran would work, but I'm unsure if this is failing due to an error within how we have set it up. The split face to represent the force of the washer upon the perpendicular surface has been given as a structural constraint within Nastran, as it is within Solidworks.

Any help towards understanding where we are going wrong, if I'm missing information off of this post, etc, please let me know and I'll get what is needed. We're in a rut here hahah.

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