Spot Welds

Spot welds connect parts together by welding them at specific locations.

You can apply spot welds by:
  • Clicking a location on the model where multiple parts are in close proximity (based on the search distance)
  • Selecting point parts on an Inspire or CAD model
  • Importing parts from a .csv file, where spot welds will be created automatically
    Note: You can use the provided Sample CSV File to format .csv files, or you can use File > Import to import a point-only .csv file.

Click the satellite icon that appears when you hover over the Spot Welds tool to view a list of all spot welds.

Note:
  • When parts are spot welded together, the contacts between the surfaces are converted from Bonded to No Contact.
  • Spot welds can be applied to either surfaces or solids. Use the SimSolid solver for solids and the OptiStruct solver for surfaces. SimSolid only supports 2T welds. The solver can be set in the Preferences under Inspire > Run Options > Analysis solver.

Create Spot Welds

Select the tool, then click on the model to create a spot weld.

  1. On the Structure ribbon, select the Spot Welds tool.
    Tip: To find and open a tool, press Ctrl+F. For more information, see Find and Search for Tools.
  2. Select the parts you want to weld.
    • Click Displayed in the Spot Welds guide panel to search all displayed parts, not only selected parts.
    • Click the Select collector in the Spot Welds guide panel and click the parts you want to weld.

  3. Select the Point(s) collector and define where to place the spot welds:
    • Select imprinted points.

    • Click any location on the weld part.

      Tip: You can use the Spot Welds Table to import weld from a CSV file. For more information, see Spot Welds Table.
  4. Enter the Tolerance that determines which parts are included in the spot weld.
  5. Enter the Diameter of the spot welds.
  6. Click Preview to preview the selected welds.
  7. Optional: Select the Skip Welds collector and click any welds you want to exclude from the spot-weld process. Skipped welds are displayed in red.
  8. Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.
Tip:
  • If the Parts Select collector is selected on the guide bar and there are no spot welds selected, selecting a part will remove the part from all spot welds in the model.
  • Spot welds can be organized into groups using the Spot Welds table or the Model Browser. Once created, you can move them between groups, but each spot weld can only be in one group.
  • If you create a part that contains only points, then select this part in the Model Browser with the Spot Welds tool open; it will create spot welds at all of the points.

Spot Welds Table

The Spot Welds table lists all of the spot welds in your model. It can be used to change the weld diameter and assigned material or to import/export designated spot weld points in .csv format.

Click the satellite icon on the Spot Welds tool to display the table.

Figure 1. Spot Welds Table


The table data can be edited with the following actions:

To Do this
Rename a spot weld Select the cell in the table and then click again to make the field editable.
Change the material Select the cell in the table and then select a different option from the list.
Sort a column Click the column header. Click repeatedly to toggle between ascending and descending order.
Add or remove columns Right-click on a column header.
Create a spot weld group Click the icon.
Move a spot weld to a different group Select the check box next to the spot weld, then right-click and select Move to... from the context menu.
Tip: Drag a spot weld to a group to move it quickly.
Import points where spot welds will be created automatically First, create a .csv file following the template.
  1. Click the Import icon.
  2. Browse to the .csv file.
Export points where spot welds are located in the model
  1. Click the Export icon.
  2. Browse to the desired location.
  3. Select .csv format.
  4. Enter the file name.

Sample CSV File

When creating a .csv file for importing points for spot welds, use this sample as a template.

Note: The .csv file is units aware. You can create spot weld groups to organize them.

Altair Inspire 20xx build xxxxx

unit: MKS ( m kg N s) [ Length: m ]

Spot Welds

Group Name,Name,X-Pos,Y_Pos,Z_Pos,Layers,Diameter

62110,Spot Weld 2735,-0.520911,3.583000,0.208003,2T,0.006000

62110,Spot Weld 2736,-0.520911,3.557000,0.208003,2T,0.00600

Note: When using a point-only .csv files (x, y, and z position data), use File > Import to import the .csv file.

Mouse Controls and Keyboard Shortcuts

To Do this
Select multiple points Hold down the Ctrl key and left-click, or use box selection to create welds at all selected points.
Select surface parts to include Hold down the Ctrl key and left-click a part to add it to or remove it from the spot weld.
Deselect all spot welds Left-click on an empty space in the modeling window.
Delete a spot weld Select a spot weld and press Delete.
Exit the tool Right-click and mouse through the check mark to exit, or double-right-click.