In a bid to help engineers refine product development processes, accelerate the design stage and eliminate material waste, the global leader in engineering simulation Ansys, along with 3M, has launched a material modelling training programme.
According to the company, engineers are leveraging the programme to generate better and analyse simulations, enhance designs and speed to market next-generation products using tape and adhesive as part of their design.
3M is the market leader in developing and supplying adhesives that are widely applied across verticals, including industrial equipment, health care, worker safety and consumer goods. 3M scientists and engineers use Ansys solutions to ensure adhesives maintain structural integrity throughout the adhesive development cycle, the company said in a press release.
Simulation enables engineers to substantially improve sustainability and validate engineering decisions when analysing advanced polymeric materials. However, engineers often struggle to obtain accurate engineering data on tapes and adhesives to run simulations effectively — this results in excess material waste and additional prototyping cycles, which hinders sustainability efforts. To answer this challenge, 3M and Ansys collaborated to create an industry material modelling training programme that teaches engineers how to model with tape and structural adhesives, optimise adhesive and joint design, decrease waste, and improve production efficiency. In addition, 3M offers verified FE material models for their tape and adhesive products to Ansys users.
The first phase of this programme includes three industry-level learning courses for adhesive modelling and simulation that are now available in Ansys Learning Hub (ALH). ALH is an Ansys-powered learning & development program that hosts digital engineering solution training and adoption resources across various verticals. These courses combine on-demand and instructor-led training delivered by 3M research scientists and engineers. The programme will be available to all ALH customers. Over time, the series will expand to form a guided learning programme spanning several major material modelling engineer competencies and will become an accredited programme embedded into the material industry's qualification process.
Rebecca Miller, Vice President, Structural Adhesives, 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division, said, 'Together with Ansys, 3M is creating a leading-edge learning environment that will educate current and future engineering workforces on how to harness powerful material science and digital engineering solutions to increase productivity, win the race to market and substantially improve environmental sustainability. Through this programme, engineers will learn core principles and processes to overcome highly complex engineering challenges.'
Shane Emswiler, Senior Vice President, Ansys, said, 'Engineers can significantly reduce costly material waste and help power team-wide environmental sustainability by mastering a rapid and robust solution that helps determine the optimum adhesive and joint design for bonding applications. Through this training programme with 3M, we are empowering engineers to enhance their skill set, increase production efficiency, slash material waste and speed products to market.'