Getting started with Ansys Mechanical: Professional simulation in 6 steps

Many companies use CADintegrated FEM tools to estimate stresses or deformations as early as possible in the design process. For simple geometries and linear load cases, this approach is generally reliable. But as assemblies grow more complex, nonlinear effects arise, or standardscompliant verification becomes necessary, these tools inevitably reach methodical and practical limits.

At this point, many engineering departments ask themselves: How do we move from CADintegrated FEM to a specialized structural simulation environment? Where do we begin? And how do we ensure that the transition does not get lost in daytoday business?

To address exactly these questions, CADFEM has developed a structured sixstep roadmap.

1. Individual Needs Analysis: What Should Simulation Achieve?

Before discussing licenses, modules, or training, it is worth taking a close look at your goals and boundary conditions:

• Which components or assemblies need to be simulated?

• What load cases, materials, and boundary conditions do you typically work with?

• Is the focus solely on static strength, or do nonlinear, thermal, or dynamic effects also play a role?

• Which standards and guidelines (such as FKM or VDI 2230) are relevant?

• What does your current IT and CAD landscape look like?

The purpose of this phase is to evaluate where simulation can generate the greatest value within your processes. It has proven effective to define one to three key application cases that should be covered. These might include strength assessments of welded frames, standardscompliant design of bolted joints, or systematic variant studies on particularly critical components.

These core applications form the guiding framework for the entire transition. They help with selecting the right software package, planning the training program, and prioritizing the first projects. The clearer these requirements are defined, the more targeted and practical the next steps can be.

2. The Right Software Package: What Do You Really Need?

Ansys Mechanical is available in various configurations and capability levels. The goal is not to license “as much as possible,” but exactly what you need for your specific application cases. Typical questions at this stage include:

• Is designlevel static analysis sufficient, or are more complex nonlinearities required?

• Do topics such as topology optimization, durability, or vibration play a role?

• How many users need to work in parallel?

• Which couplings, for example to existing CFD solutions, are meaningful?

Based on the needs analysis, a concrete proposal for your Ansys setup is created. We take a close look at which version of Ansys Mechanical – Pro, Premium, or Enterprise – covers your requirements effectively. We also clarify which interfaces you need to connect your CAD and PLM/PDM environment cleanly, and which licensing model best fits your team size, usage patterns, and budget.

This forms the basis for an initial migration and implementation plan. It defines which use cases will be addressed first, how the transition from existing CADintegrated tools will proceed, and which milestones signal productive use. What matters most is starting quickly with real tasks so that the introduction does not remain theoretical.

3. Fast Onboarding: From the First Model to Productive Use

Even the best software provides little value if it is not used in daily work. That is why it pays to structure the introduction carefully. With us, this phase typically consists of three components:

1. Hands on training: Instead of abstract example models, your own applications take center stage. This allows your team to learn Ansys Mechanical directly with tasks that will later appear in real projects.

2. Accompanied start phase: In the first projects, we build models together, run calculations, and evaluate the results. This helps us compare outcomes with previous methods or experience and refine modeling and settings where needed. It builds confidence and prevents incorrect configurations from being carried forward.

3. Clear roles within the team: Defining early who will use Ansys Mechanical regularly, who will use it occasionally, and who will act as an internal contact person supports targeted skills development. The goal is to avoid dependencies on individuals and instead anchor knowledge across the team.

During this phase, your team should quickly be able to build independent, functional models and assess results professionally. Every detail does not need to be perfect yet; experience and depth will grow over time. What matters most is lowering the barrier to entry and establishing the professional FEM software as a reliable everyday tool.

4. Seamless Simulations: Data Transfer and Initial Use Cases

Many companies ask us: “What happens to our existing CAD models during import?” The advantages of a dedicated simulation environment become clear here: CAD models are imported robustly, and nonessential details can be removed or simplified as needed. Contacts, volumes, and surfaces are automatically recognized and used for model setup.

The benefit: Simulation runs in parallel with the design process without affecting CAD versions. This avoids version conflicts and enables more flexible and faster workflows. It is especially valuable in the beginning to run one or two typical application cases endtoend in Ansys Mechanical. This quickly reveals where the software excels and where your existing workflows can be improved.

The initial use cases follow these steps:

1. Import the CAD model using an integrated or neutral interface (such as IGES, STEP, Parasolid)
2. Optional: simplify geometry (defeaturing, removing irrelevant details)
3. Automatically detect contacts and regions (volumes, surfaces, contact pairs)
4. Mesh the model and define boundary conditions
5. Compute load cases and evaluate results
6. Compare results with previous CADintegrated tools or tests

5. Technical and IT Support: CADFEM Is at Your Side 

Especially in the first months, many detailed questions tend to arise, both technical and organizational. It is important to have a partner who can support you on both the engineering and IT side. This prevents small obstacles from turning into points of frustration and ensures the software is actually used.

With CADFEM you receive:

• Support with modeling and solver questions, for example when a contact problem does not converge, a nonlinear material model needs adjustment, or it is unclear which solution approach fits a specific case.

• Guidance on process optimization, such as designing effective workflows, standardizing settings, or introducing best practices that should be adopted across the team.

• Assistance with installation, license management, and updates so that technical hurdles do not slow down productive work. Whether new versions need to be integrated, the license server must be configured, or IT security questions arise, everything is covered.

• Foureyes checks whenever you want a second opinion on a model, mesh, or results before sharing them internally or externally.

6. Regular Health Checks: Getting the Most Out of Your Application

Even after the initial onboarding, regular health checks help reassess your simulation workflows:

• Do existing workflows still match current project needs?

• Are there new features that could simplify established processes?

• Are models and methods still state of the art?

• Are there bottlenecks in computation time, expertise, or process design?

Certain tasks or routine steps can be simplified significantly through templates or scripting. Methods should also be reviewed regularly, for instance when standards, materials, or boundary conditions change. Targeted training can help you get even more out of the existing software.

Such regular checks also send an important signal to the team: professional simulation software is not a onetime introduction. As an integral part of product development, it evolves alongside new requirements. This means your employees are not left alone with open questions, new tasks, or occasional challenges. Health checks create dedicated space to continually improve the simulation process.

Getting Started With Ansys Mechanical: From Plan to Practice

The transition from CADintegrated FEM tools to Ansys Mechanical does not happen at the push of a button. But it does not have to be a leap into the unknown. When needs analysis, software selection, onboarding, data transfer, and ongoing support are well aligned, the result is a structured process that pays off in better prediction quality, more stable simulations, and more efficient workflows.

Are you considering what the move to Ansys Mechanical could look like for your organization? Then now is the right moment for the next step. For example, through an initial consultation or by joining our webinar. There, we present Ansys Mechanical using typical application examples and answer your questions in a clear and practical way.