1. Role of the pre- and postprocessor in FEA
Accuracy and control
Simplifying and cleaning up the geometry and discretized data
Ensuring that the calculated results are understandable and relevant
This figure illustrates to role of the pre- and post-processor and the solver in the product design process

2. Role of the pre- and postprocessor in FEA
Preprocessor
Import data
Correct geometry
Discretize or mesh it
Idealize physical design
Create FE model for analysis
Postprocessor
Import results
Display results in graphical format
Helps understanding model behavior

3. Top pre- and postprocessor considerations
Accuracy
Does the pre- and postprocessor provide the ability to control creation and adjustment of the FE mesh and enable you to control the FE model creation process sufficiently without sacrificing accuracy?
Accessing CAD data
Can the pre-processor import and manage geometric data from multiple CAD systems and data formats?

4. Top pre- and postprocessor considerations
FE model creation and idealization
Does the pre- and postprocessor allow you to idealize certain topologies such as thin-walled models, and create smaller, more accurate finite element models?
Efficiently detect all geometric irregularities and repair or remove them.
Have the ability to create and manipulate geometry and FE entities in the absence of any geometry
Provide beam modeling tools.
User interface
Easy to learn and use
Have the ability to tailor the user interface to your needs

5. Top pre- and postprocessor considerations
Solver support and solution scalability
Does the pre- and postprocessor support the export of solver input files and the import of solver results files? Can it support the parameters needed by industry-leading solvers? Also take potential additional simulation requirements for the future in consideration.
Understanding the results
Allow full control of results selection and include a robust and varied set of tools to manage and display results.
Facilitate easy comprehension of the data.
Easily view appropriate results quantities on shell and beam elements

6. Top pre- and postprocessor considerations
Automation and customization
Provide some method of automation for repetitive sets of commands
Interaction or data transfer with third party software products such as Word and Excel.
Overall value and support
Assessment of the company behind the software.
Ready-to-go systems with software, manuals, guides and security.
Keeping pre- and postprocessor up to date.
Application engineering support by telephone and onsite.
Free trial versions with support.
Availability of bug fix releases of the software.

7. Conclusion
The choice of pre- and postprocessor is equally important with the choice of the solver itself. There are many questions that need to be answered to ensure you have a complete solution that provides timely results while reducing the risks of poor model quality and accuracy.

8. What are your FEA requirements?
Do you use more than one FEA solver in your company?
Do you use geometry form multiple CAD systems to build your FEA models?
Is there a need to work with legacy FEM models, or models with no geometry source, only FEA data?
Is there a need to customize the Graphical User Interface to fit your process?
What are your simulation goals and who uses it? Implicit, explicit calculations?

9. FEA Software landscape
Open source FEA:
Code-Aster, FreeFem++, OpenFoam
Simulation apps:
Simscale, TotalSim, Simulation Hub
In-CAD simulation:
Solid Edge Simulation, NX Simulation, Fusion 360
Standalone pre/post processors:
Femap, Patran, Hypermesh
Solvers:
NX Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, MSC Nastran, LS-DYNA, MARC, Optistruct, Radioss (implicit or explicit solver needed?)
Integrated 3D Simulation Platforms:
Simcenter 3D, STAR-CCM+, COMSOL, ANSYS DISCOVERY LIVE

10. Functional checklist Femap / NX Nastran
Linear or nonlinear structural analysis or dynamics analysis
Buckling
Normal modes
Composites analysis
Rotor Dynamics
Contact problems or “Glued” connections modeling
Thermal Analysis, heat transfer
Transient response
Frequency response
Complex eigenvalues
Random vibration
Aeroelasticity
Electronics cooling
Data Surfaces and Data Mapping of data to the FEM model
Weldment Modeling
Bolt Pre-Load calculations
Large Complex model manipulation
Beam and cross section modeling with precise visualizing of the true beam representation and orientation
Mid-Plane extraction of solid Geometry for plate model creation
Advanced loads definitions
Femap / NX Nastran

11. Functional checklist Other solutions might be more suitable
Fatigue of Fracture Mechanics
Acoustics
Advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) or advanced Fluid Flow applications
Free surface or fluid sloshing applications
Turbo-machinery analysis (pumps and compressors) especially if it involves modeling the fluid forces acting on the machinery, or if cavitation is important.
Electromagnetics (High Frequency or Low Frequency)
Thermal analysis that involves or ablation, or problems where boundary layer effects are important
Other solutions might be more suitable

12. Licensing considerations
Fluctuating usage?
Buy or lease?
Need some or lots of different simulation capabilities?
Simultaneous use?
Additional costs?

13. Licensing considerations
Simulation-as-a-Service
Accessible to a large number of users
Simultaneous use
For cloud-based or local computing infrastructure
Token software license model
Infrequently-used CAE applications also available
Flexible
Floating / concurrent licenses
Anyone on the network can use the licensed module, up to the number of licenses specified in the license file.
With more then 5 users, this offers more flexibility than node locked model
Node-Locked Licenses
An USB-dongle serves as your license key, so you can use the license on multiple computers, but not at the same time.
Mixed Node-Locked and Floating Licenses

14. Licensing considerations: Configurations
Single Server Configuration
Standalone Node-Locked Configuration
Dongle
Redundant Server Configuration
Multiple Server Configuration
Single Server Configuration
One server that your clients communicate with for licenses.
Standalone Node-Locked Configuration
There is no server. Client points directly to the license file. These files are locked to the client and not available to any other client.
Redundant Server Configuration
Ensures the availability of your licenses in the event of a deamon crash until system administrator is available. You must identify and provide the hostids for three servers where cpies of the license file will reside. Requires at least two of the three servers to be active for the license to be available.
Multiple Server Configuration
Combining server configuration types to create an overflow mechanism. In cases of occasional heavy use by one group, it allows license requests to overflow to other license servers. However this is controlled from the client side.

15. Why Femap?
FEMAP is Siemens dedicated, stand alone, Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and
Post-Processing application for predicting structural, dynamic, and thermal behavior
of complex engineered components & systems.
FEMAP has unsurpassed technical depth for:
Importing data, (CAD (geometry) or FE data (models))
Developing finite element models for a targeted solver
Visualizing the model
Interpreting and reporting the results
FEMAP is CAD agnostic and solver independent
FEMAP is 100% Windows native allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the typical engineering workflow
PowerPoint, Word, Excel
MATLAB/Simulink etc.

16. Femap subscription

17. Femap subscription Monthly subscription: Several options online
Perpetual license through a Siemens PLM partner:
A node locked version (Dongle). An USB-dongle serves as your license key, so you can use the license on multiple computers, but not at the same time.
A floating version (Network). One or more licenses are made available by a local network through a pool. Authorized users can request available licenses from this pool.