MSC Software Introduces Six MD Nastran Desktop Bundles

Having established itself among large manufacturers, MSC Software now plans to broaden its reach within the mid-size businesses with six new bundles, branded MD Nastran Desktop.

• Structures
• Structures and Motion
• Advanced Dynamics
• Advanced Structures
• Advanced Explicit
• Advanced Structures & Motion

MD Nastran Desktop bundles are priced between U.S. $20,000 to $42,000 (same pricing in €). They include MSC's SimXpert geometry modeling and translator interfaces at no extra cost. If you prefer using MSC's Patran interface for pre- and post-processing, it too is available for some bundles. The Desktop bundles are independent (standalone) programs, each containing several solvers targeted at a specific discipline.

For instance, the Structures bundle is aimed at those who need to analyze stress, joints, connectors, and load transfer between components. The package consists of solvers for:

• Linear Statics
• Dynamics
• Modal
• Buckling
• Connectors
• Linear Contact

The Advanced Explicit bundle is meant for those who study explicit nonlinear problems, such as drop tests, impact, and crashes. Accordingly, the package consists of:

• Linear Statics
• Dynamics
• Modal
• Buckling
• Connectors
• Linear Contact
• Explicit Nonlinear
• Drop Test

Code coupling for multi-physics simulation is available in some packages. For example, both the Advanced Structures bundle and the Advanced Structures & Motion bundle let you perform thermal-mechanical analysis. The Structures & Motion bundle lets you use code-coupling to study transformation of flexible bodies.

(For a complete breakdown of each package, visit MSC Software's product home page for MD Nastran Desktop.)

With six separate desktop bundles targeting different analysis disciplines, MSC Software expects mid-sized manufacturers who had been prevented to adopt the full MD Nastran suite by its price may have an easier time justifying the purchase. MD Nastran Desktop packages are licensed in node-locked licensing with two target host IDs. (It means you can dedicate two machines to host the software. You won't be able to run the software simultaneously on both, but you can choose to run it on either machine, one at a time.)

MD Nastran 2010 (the full product, not the Desktop bundles listed above) is priced between $21,000 to $45,000, with additional $20,000 to $25,000 for the graphical user interface.

For more, watch MSC's video clip below introducing the Desktop suites.