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COMSOL Multiphysics® 6.3 Release Highlights

Download Version 6.3
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Design Module Updates

For users of the Design Module, COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.3 introduces several enhancements for more efficient geometry handling. These updates include support for the latest CAD file formats, the ability to preview assembly trees for selective component import, and automatic geometry cleanup for mesh preparation. Additionally, the Detect Interferences tool has been upgraded to offer improved gap detection with customizable gap tolerance, there are new options for variable radius and constant width fillets, and there is a new feature for projecting edges onto faces. Learn more about these updates below.

Variable Radius and Constant Width Fillets

The Fillet feature now offers two new options for greater flexibility when rounding edges of 3D objects. The Variable Radius option can be used to specify smoothly varying radii via interpolation at multiple points along a chain of edges. The Constant Width option makes it possible for users to define a fixed width for the fillet face, ensuring the width remains consistent along the entire filleted edge.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with the Fillet node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, and a 3D model in the Graphics window.
Creating fillets with a variable radius enables smooth transitions when working with complex shapes, such as when creating geometries for simulations of conceptual designs for consumer electronics.

Project to Faces Feature

The new Project to Faces feature allows edges to be projected onto faces with various projection methods. Edges can be projected along an existing edge, in the direction of a specified vector, or perpendicular to the target faces. Additionally, perspective projection is available, where an existing point can be chosen as the eye position for the projection.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder with the Project to Faces node highlighted, the corresponding Settings window, and a 3D model in the Graphics window.
Imprints are created on the face as the edges of the highlighted construction faces are projected in the direction of the highlighted construction edge.

Updated CAD File Import

The CAD file import functionality now supports the latest versions of all compatible file formats. Additionally, AutoCAD®, Inventor®, and SOLIDWORKS® files can now be imported on supported Linux® operating systems with Intel® 64-bit processors. For a complete list of supported CAD file formats, visit the Read from File, CAD section of the CAD specification chart.

Preview the Assembly Tree of CAD Assemblies

When importing CAD assemblies in the Inventor®, NX™, PTC Creo Parametric™, PTC Pro/ENGINEER®, and SOLIDWORKS® file format, it is now possible to preview the assembly tree, enabling users to select specific components to import from the assembly.

View screenshot

Updates to the Detect Interferences Tool

The Detect Interferences tool now enables specification of a separate gap tolerance, improving the detection of gaps while simultaneously searching for other types of interferences. Additionally, new options have been added to select which types of detected interferences to display in the Interfering Faces list. These options include Show intersections, Show touches, Show gaps, and Show containments.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the Model Builder, the Tools window for Detect Interferences, and a circuit breaker assembly in the Graphics window.
The Tools window for Detect Interferences with the new visualization options for choosing the types of interferences to display in the list.

Automatic Geometry Cleanup

Small details and gaps in geometry can now be automatically detected and removed, simplifying the geometry for meshing purposes and reducing simulation size. The automatic process identifies small features like sliver faces, short edges, narrow gaps, and thin domains, which are then removed to prepare the model for analysis. For more control, the optional Cleanup Wizard makes it possible to adjust detail sizes and select cleanup operations.

The Geometry Cleanup functionality can automatically modify Boolean tolerances, add a Remove Details operation, and leverage functionality in the CAD Import Module or Design Module, depending on the detected features and available licenses. The Geometry Cleanup functionality is demonstrated in the Electrical Heating in a Busbar Assembly, Geometry Cleanup on a Wheel Rim Geometry, and Importing and Meshing a PCB Geometry from an ODB++ Archive tutorial models. Note that the more advanced features of the Geometry Cleanup functionality require a license for the CAD Import Module, Design Module, or one of the LiveLink™ products for CAD. For more details, see the CAD Specification Chart.

A gap and thin domain are automatically detected in and removed from this circuit breaker model using a Geometry Cleanup functionality. Since a Design Module license is available in this example, Boolean operations from the module are used for cleanup. The same geometry is also featured in the video below.
A gap and thin domain are automatically detected in and removed from this circuit breaker model using the Geometry Cleanup functionality. The same geometry is used in the video above. Here, there is no license for the Design Module, so the details are cleaned up using the Remove Details and Merge Faces features.
This example demonstrates how to adjust the detail size in the Cleanup Wizard to detect and remove more small features. By increasing the Detail Size setting, additional sliver faces and short edges are identified for removal. This provides more control over which details are removed during geometry cleanup.

Virtual Operations

The virtual operations toolkit now includes the Merge Faces operation, which merges faces and eliminates gaps or regions between selected surfaces. When using the CAD Import Module, Design Module, or one of the LiveLink™ products for CAD, the operation can also merge faces of different sizes and shapes by automatically creating the necessary imprints. The Merge Faces operation is also integrated into the new Geometry Cleanup process.

A close-up view of the Merge Faces settings window and a 3D geometry in the Graphics window.

A close-up view of the Graphics window showing a 3D geometry after the Merge Faces operation was used.

Merging the selected faces (left, blue) of opposing sides of a gap to collapse the region between them (right).

New Tutorial Models

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 6.3 brings two new tutorial models to the Design Module.

Ladder Frame Geometry

A ladder frame model with floor shadows.
A surface geometry of a ladder frame created using the Midsurface and Extract features from solid geometry imported from a CAD file.

Application Library Title: ladder_frame_geometry

Download from the Application Gallery

Ship Hull Geometry

The geometry of a ship hull model.
Geometry of a ship hull created using the Loft operation.

Application Library Title: ship_hull_geometry

Download from the Application Gallery

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD, and Inventor are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. NX is a trademarks or registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. PTC, Creo, Creo Parametric, and Pro/ENGINEER are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and in other countries. SOLIDWORKS is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp. Support for implementation of the ODB++ format was provided by Mentor Graphics Corporation pursuant to the ODB++ Solutions Development Partnership General Terms and Conditions (https://odbplusplus.com/design/terms-of-use/).