SolveSpace vs. Rocky DEM

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD software that is open-source and distributed under the GPLv3 license, enabling users to create 3D components and drawings through a variety of functions, including extrusions, revolutions, and Boolean operations such as union, difference, and intersection. Additionally, it facilitates 2D part modeling by allowing users to sketch a section and export it in formats like DXF, PDF, and SVG, while its 3D assembly function is helpful for assessing how components fit together. For enthusiasts of 3D printing, it provides the ability to export parts in STL and other mesh formats, ensuring compatibility with most 3D printers. Furthermore, SOLVESPACE supports the generation of CAM data, allowing users to export 2D vector art suitable for use with waterjet machines or laser cutters, as well as creating STEP and STL files for seamless integration with third-party CAM software for machining tasks. The software is especially advantageous for mechanism design, leveraging a constraint solver to simulate both planar and spatial linkages, accommodating a range of joint types such as pin, ball, and slide joints. Instead of depending on conventional trigonometry and spreadsheets, users can engage with live-dimensioned drawings that simplify the handling of plane and solid geometry, and they can sketch sections using various shapes like lines, rectangles, datum lines, points, circles, arcs, cubic Bezier segments, and more advanced C2 interpolating splines. This all-encompassing approach not only fosters creativity and productivity in the design workflow but also positions SOLVESPACE as an indispensable tool for both engineers and designers, enhancing their ability to innovate and realize complex projects effectively. Ultimately, its versatility and user-friendly interface make it an ideal choice for a wide range of design applications.

Rocky DEM offers a sophisticated approach to modeling the flow dynamics of bulk materials, adeptly handling intricate particle shapes and a variety of size distributions. It stands out by leveraging the processing capabilities of multiple GPU cards, which dramatically accelerates simulations and facilitates the handling of larger datasets within shorter timeframes. The software excels in its ability to accurately model diverse particle forms, including customizable 3D shapes, 2D shells, and both rigid and flexible fibers, thereby broadening the scope of simulations. Furthermore, it allows users to configure their equipment components to react dynamically to a range of forces, such as particle interactions and gravitational influences. With its state-of-the-art Application Programming Interface (API), Rocky DEM enhances customization possibilities and enriches the overall user experience, resulting in outstanding usability, improved portability, and enhanced solver efficiency. Additionally, the software integrates smoothly with Ansys Workbench, covering tools like Fluent, Mechanical, Optislang, and DesignXplorer, which provides both one-way and two-way coupling options that guarantee reliable physical outcomes. This seamless integration not only streamlines the workflow but also boosts simulation accuracy across a broad spectrum of engineering applications, making it a vital tool for professionals in the field. Ultimately, Rocky DEM empowers users to achieve a higher level of precision and efficiency in their simulations.