When computer-aided design applications started working their way into machine shops in the 60s and 70s, they were complex programs and also very expensive, so only large aerospace and automotive companies could afford them.
But by the time the 80s come around, CAD starts to make headway in machine shops. Today, these programs are just about everywhere. We’ve come a long way. Today, CAD applications like AutoCAD are available on the iOS and Google Play stores!
Even with this development, though, not every machine shop is using CAD (or even CNC) in their processes. At Eagle, we are on the leading edge: using technology to inform the way we make magnetic shields. So, let’s take a look at how computer-aided design programs are used in the planning and design phase of the manufacture of magnetic shields and why this tool truly is the start of something great.
Designing Shield Geometry
If you’re a seasoned practitioner of CAD programs, you’re already familiar with how it provides a digital model of a real-life part before you send it to your CNC for cutting. When we help engineers design their shields, we do the same thing.
Shape Modeling
The shape and dimensions of a magnetic shield are fundamental to its ability to deflect or absorb magnetic fields. Therefore, the geometry is an essential part of the design process.
CAD software empowers engineers with sophisticated tools to create complex designs that would otherwise be impossible to draft. Whether the structure is curved, it requires cutouts, or additional layering, CAD can handle it.
The precision found in CAD models also provides exacting dimensional control, so when the design goes to shop floor, we know it will be right and deliver optimal performance.
Using CAD programs helps shields take shape and make sure the right material is used.
Material Selection
Choosing the right metal is another critical step in designing a shield. The device going into the ocean will be exposed to a very different environment from one going into space, for example, so it’s important for each device to be given the right protection in its environment. And every metal is different.
So, when it comes to making a shield, we need to keep factors like permeability, conductivity, and magnetic saturation top-of-mind. CAD helps with that.
Many CAD platforms incorporate material properties into their functionality, allowing engineers to simulate and assess how different materials will perform under specific conditions. This streamlines the selection process and refines the material choices to achieve the best possible outcome. All while taking factors like cost, weight, and availability into account.
Simulating Magnetic Field Interactions
The reason we house a device within a magnetic shield is to protect it from magnetic shields, right? CAD software helps engineers take a proactive stance in designing with magnetic fields in mind. Here’s how:
Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
One of the major benefits of using CAD in magnetic shielding is the ability to conduct Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
FEA simulates the behavior of magnetic fields within and around the shield. This analysis includes the shield’s geometry, material properties, and the external magnetic field into consideration.
With this tool, engineers can identify weaknesses and optimize the design. The result: less time in the physical prototyping phase, since we can iterate within the digital simulation.
FEA provides invaluable insights into the performance of the shield design so engineers can optimize their solutions and reduce time and cost associated with the development process.
Optimizing Shield Geometry
Beyond predicting effectiveness, FEA also helps optimize shield geometry. By analyzing simulations, engineers can fine-tune the design, manipulating how the magnetic field gets distributed within the shielded area. But it also helps determine whether the field within the protected region is sufficiently uniform.
This is just one more example of the power CAD offers to engineers as we iterate and refine the shield to make sure it meets the specific needs of the job.
CAD programs help engineers make the right shield faster, removing the trial-and-error of older methods.
CAD Compared to Traditional Design
CAD revolutionizes magnetic shield design by offering remarkable focus on field behavior and uniformity. Traditional design methods like pencil-and-paper sketches, trial-and-error, and pure mathematical calculations fall short in comparison. They cannot bring the same visualization, accuracy, and nuance required to predict the interactions between the shield and the magnetic fields it will be exposed to.
CAD is a tool of empowerment. It allows us to precisely model these interactions and enhance the accuracy and efficacy of the shield design. All these combined means we create better shields faster.
Key CAD Software for Modeling Shields
Several CAD software options stand out for their robust capabilities in modeling magnetic shields, including:
- ANSYS: Widely recognized for its comprehensive simulation tools, ANSYS facilitates detailed analysis of magnetic field interactions, making it invaluable for magnetic shield design.
- COMSOL Multiphysics: Known for its versatility, COMSOL supports multi-physics modeling that’s essential for understanding complex behaviors in magnetic shielding.
- CST Studio Suite: This software is highly regarded for its specialized tools in electromagnetic and EM field simulation, offering precise modeling capabilities for magnetic shield design.
Shields Designed with CAD at Eagle Magnetic
Designing an effective magnetic shield demands precision, foresight, and a deep understanding of magnetic field behavior.
CAD, with its advanced geometric modeling, material selection, and simulation capabilities, stands as a superior tool in the engineering of magnetic shields that meet and exceed application-specific requirements.
That is why we at Eagle Magnetic harness the power of CAD to deliver magnetic shielding solutions that are not only effective but also consistently meet our high standards of quality, delivered on time and precisely to spec.
Experience the Eagle difference so you can rest assured your magnetic shielding challenges are met with the highest standards of expertise and precision.
