Display the Mechanical Wizard by selecting the wizard button in the Tools group on the Home tab. You can close the wizard at any time by clicking the close button at the top of the panel. To show or hide the sections of steps in the wizard, click the section header.

Features of the Mechanical Wizard

The Mechanical Wizard works like a web page consisting of collapsible groups and tasks. Click a group title to expand or collapse the group; click a task to activate the task.

When activated, a task navigates to a particular location in the user interface and displays a callout with a message about the status of the task and information on how to proceed. Activating a task may change your tab selection, cursor mode, and Outline selection as needed to set the proper context for proceeding with the task.

You may freely click tasks to explore the Mechanical application. Standard tasks WILL NOT change any information in your simulation.

Callouts close automatically based on your actions in the software. Click inside a callout to close it manually.

Most tasks indicate a status via the icon to the left of the task name. Rest your mouse on a task for a description of the status. Each task updates its status and behavior based on the current Outline selection and software status.

Tasks are optional. If you already know how to perform an operation, you don't need to activate the task.

Click the Choose Wizard task at the top of the Mechanical Wizard to change the wizard goal. For example, you may change the goal from Find safety factors to Find fatigue life. Changing the wizard goal does not modify your simulation.

At your discretion, simulations may include any available feature not covered under Required Steps for a wizard. The Mechanical Wizard does not restrict your use of the Mechanical application.

You may use the Mechanical Wizard with databases from previous versions of the Mechanical application.

Types of the Mechanical Wizards

There are wizards that guide you through the following simulations: