Implementing a completely virtual product development system saves money and moves products to market faster. But many companies don't implement such a system because of the high cost of CAE software. Fortunately, there is a low-cost alternative that gives even beginning users access to a considerable amount of simulation power.

ANSYS Professional is an inexpensive, easy-to-use program for structural/thermal analysis projects. Containing the power of the industry's leading simulation technology, ANSYS Professional gives users high-level simulation capability without the need for high-level expertise. It comes complete with a full contingent of linear elements, significant nonlinearities, the ability to solve complex assemblies-including shell-to-solid-and the most requested set of solvers.

First-time users can access the ANSYS Workbench environment and easily proceed through the simulation step-by-step. The ANSYS Workbench is a new-generation tool that offers an efficient and intuitive user interface, superior CAD integration, automatic meshing, access to model parameters, and access to much of the functionality available in ANSYS Professional, all within one environment. As additional simulation capability is required, the user can move up to the newly revised, single-window ANSYS environment.