Can we run multiple simulations in a row?

EvanReese

I'm using FEA iteratively to compare various scenarios and part geometry. Is there a way to create a queue of simulations using different loads and different part configurations, then run them all while I'm away at lunch or asleep?

S1mon

Just a guess, but do multiple browser windows work?

EvanReese

S1mon said:

Just a guess, but do multiple browser windows work?

I was wondering that. I'll give it a test.

romeograham

I tend to duplicate the assembly once I have the loads set up - then swap in the changed parts (replace, select different configurations, set different load or constraint conditions, etc). 

This way, I can run the simulations in each assembly concurrently without problem. I don't think you'll be able to run different simulations on the same assembly in different browsers unless you separate them with branches or something. (Kind of like how the position of the rollback bar is cannot be different in different windows (or for different users) if you are viewing the same Part Studio in the same workspace).

I just checked by adding a new load in another instance of an Assembly - and it (predictably) updates the first Assembly and restarts the Simulation.

Another reason to have discrete assemblies for each analysis is that it takes so long to rerun if you wanted to A/B an assembly - that it's better to have  a unique simulation in each Assembly tab. If you don't change anything - the simulations (might) run a bit faster when you want to come back and take some screenshots or compare results.

EvanReese

Thanks, Romeo. I will consider that. I also want to experiment with just versioning each time I get a setup that I like. That way I can name each version something meaningful, and can always branch later to iterate on one. To make that repeatable, I probably need to un-configure the assembly and just hard code changes to the variables.

eric_pesty

One trick I've been using to avoid "re-starts" when running simulation(s) in different windows is to just run the simulation on the last microversion instead of the "workspace", this way I can keep going and/or prepare the next "run" without messing up the on-going one.

EvanReese

great tip, Eric

romeograham

eric_pesty said:

One trick I've been using to avoid "re-starts" when running simulation(s) in different windows is to just run the simulation on the last microversion instead of the "workspace", this way I can keep going and/or prepare the next "run" without messing up the on-going one.

Wow - this is an interesting tip - and it works!

EvanReese

it does, though they don't seem to keep running if you leave the tab too long, so overnight still probably isn't going to happen.

S1mon

Hmmm. Is it time for one of those hacks where you make your mouse move periodically?

wayne_sauder

 I did one the other night. Didn't have it running all night just around an hour. 
 I use a Mac so I set up Automator to press the J key and put that on a 5-minute loop. Seemed to work fine but I think I would have to set that up each time because when I closed everything down and restarted my computer it it seemed to have lost some connection to the browser. 

martin_kopplow

There is a little app out there to do that for you: https://wiggler.systems (This one is for windows, but there are similar ones for other OSes.)