Work with Design Accelerator material database

Use the Material database to select a part material or add, edit, or remove the selected material data.

The data from material database are stored in the XML format in ...Design Data\Design Accelerator\Tables\Materials folder.

  1. On the Ribbon, click the Design tab.
  2. Start any generator or calculator, for example Bolted Connection.
  3. Switch to the Calculation tab.
  4. Check the box next to the Material edit field to open Materials dialog box.
  5. Click the row with a desired material to select it. You can also edit desired material values. Double-click the edit field, and enter new value.
  6. Click OK to confirm the selection and close the Materials dialog box. The selected material is inserted on the Calculation tab together with corresponding values (Modulus of Elasticity, for example).
If you have already inserted material from the Material database into the calculation, return to the Materials dialog box by clicking the button next to the Material edit field.

Add new material

    It is possible to add a new material to the database. When you add a new material, we recommend filling in all columns for particular material. It is possible to enter zero value in some columns. However, when you want to include a desired material in a calculation, you need to enter exact values for material parameters that are listed in the Material section on the Calculation tab of a particular generator or calculator. For example, for Spur gears, you need to enter values for Bending Fatigue Limit, contact Fatigue Limit, Modulus of Elasticity, Poisson’s Ratio, and Heat Treatment.

    For material for spur gears, bevel gears and worm gears, you also need to enter following material values dependent on the calculation standard (you select the standard using the Method of Strength Calculation drop-down menu in the Calculation tab).

    Note: User created materials are stored in the ...\Design Data\Design Accelerator\Tables\_Custom folder.

    Narrow the material selection

      When you search for desired material, you can narrow the search for desired material. You can search for specific standard or density value. In the appropriate column, enter desired text for searched material property in the “Enter text here” edit field. For example, enter DIN in the “Enter text here” edit field in the Standard column. Only DIN materials are displayed.

      Note: The edit fields are case sensitive. Type “DIN” when searching for DIN standard materials, not “din”.