In the Material group on the FEA tab, you have the choice of assigning a material to the design model from one of the material lists using the Assign button.
You can also "unassign" a material association from the design model.
You also have the option of displaying information for a material already assigned to a part by using the Inquire button and selecting the part in order to retrieve the material assignment information for that part.
More than one material cannot be assigned in the same study. However, a design can have several studies associated with it and each study could contain a different material assignment.
To assign a material to your design model,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click Assign. The Assign Material dialog box opens.
2. If necessary, give the study a name. When no name has been earlier provided, you can either click Name in the Study group to create it or enter a unique study name including path information in the highlighted box.
3. If necessary, associate the study with the design.
4. Click Part. Specify the part with which the study is associated.
5. Select a materials list from the Source Matrl selection list as the source of the new preferred material information:
◦ Preferred Materials: Typically, the company-specific list of materials.
◦ Database: The Creo Elements/Direct Finite Element Analysis database of industrial materials or other available database.
◦ Session Materials: The list of materials already used in the open session.
◦ Assigned Material: A material that is assigned in another study.
6. Click Material. The Materials Browser is displayed and the name of the selected list of materials is in the window title bar. If you selected Assigned Material, specify the material using the Structure Browser.
7. Select the desired material by double clicking on it or by highlighting it and applying your selection.
8. Click to assign the material to the part.
To unassign a material from your design model,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click Unassign. The Unassign Matrl dialog box opens.
2. The active study name is displayed in the Study box. If you have several studies associated with the design model, select the study with the material you wish to unassign by clicking on one of the displayed LBCs or mesh conditions associated with the particular study. You can also select the study using any of the other Creo Elements/Direct Modeling selection methods. The selected study name is displayed in the Study box. The name of the part associated with the selected study is automatically displayed in the Part box.
3. Click on in the dialog box to unassign the material from the selected study and part.
The material is unassigned from the part.
Alternatively, click Material in the Unassign Matrl dialog box and specify the material in the Structure Browser.
To inquire about a material in your design model,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click Inquire. The Inquire Material dialog box opens showing the material details of the active study.
2. The active study name is displayed in the Study box.
3. If you have several studies associated with the design model, first click Study and then click on one of the displayed LBCs or mesh conditions associated with that particular study.
You can also select the study using any of the other Creo Elements/Direct Modeling selection methods.
The selected study name is displayed in the Study box.
The Inquire Material dialog box opens and displays the name and properties of the material assigned to the part in the active study.
Alternatively, click Material in the Inquire Material dialog box and specify the material in the Structure Browser.
To add materials to the Preferred Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click the arrow next to Preferred.
2. Click Add. The Add Pref Matrl dialog box opens.
3. Select a materials list in the Source Matrl box as the source of the new preferred material information. You can select from an available materials database, from the session materials list, or from assigned materials.
4. Click Material. The materials browser is displayed (not for assigned materials) and the name of the selected list of materials is in the window title bar.
5. Select the material you want to add to the preferred materials list by double clicking on it or by highlighting it and clicking Apply in the browser window. (For assigned materials, use the Structure Browser.)
To remove materials from the Preferred Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click the arrow next to Preferred.
2. Click Remove. The Remove Pref Matrl dialog box opens.
3. Click Material. The Preferred Materials list is displayed in the Materials Browser.
4. Select the material you want to remove from the preferred materials list by double clicking on it or by highlighting it and clicking Apply in the browser window. The Materials Browser window closes and the Material box in the Remove Pref Matrl dialog box shows the material as "defined".
5. Click in the Remove Pref Matrl dialog box to confirm the removal of the selected material from the Preferred Materials list.
To list materials in the Preferred Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click the arrow next to Preferred.
2. Click List.
To save a copy of the Preferred Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click the arrow next to Preferred.
2. Click Save. The Save Pref Matrl dialog box opens.
3. Click File to use the file browser to select an existing file to save to, or type a filename for the copy in the File box.
4. Click to save the selected file.
To load and assign materials from a previously saved local preferred materials file, load it from the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling command line with the (load "filename") statement.
To load a Preferred Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click the arrow next to Preferred.
2. Click Load. The Load Pref Matrl dialog box opens.
3. Click File to use the file browser to select file to load, or type a filename in the File box.
4. Click to load the selected file.
To list materials in the Session Materials list,
1. Click FEA and then, in the Material group, click List. The Session Materials list opens.
to assign the material to the part.