Getting started

Quick start

This walkthrough takes you from a new account to your first PDF report. Allow about 30 minutes, most of it for the first ForgeNode setup.

Note Step 6 starts a real analysis and uses your plan's analysis allowance. Everything before it is free.

Before you start

  • A Windows 11 x64 workstation with 8 cores and 16 GB RAM. A graphics card is optional: an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or better speeds runs up, and the CPU route works without one. See System requirements.
  • A wheel design exported as one STEP file (.step or .stp) IGES file (.igs or .iges) or Parasolid X_T file (.x_t or .xt), no larger than 50 MB.
  • A LoudGears account. Choose Apply for Free Beta Access on the home page, or use your invitation link.

1. Look at a finished result first

Open Demo from the top navigation. It shows a real archived run in the same result viewer you will use later. Spend two minutes switching between VM Stress, Displacement, and Safety Factor. See Explore the demo.

2. Install ForgeNode

  1. Sign in, open the account menu (top right), and choose Download ForgeNode.
  2. Download the installer and check its SHA-256 checksum against the value on the page.
  3. Run the installer, then open LoudGears ForgeNode.
  4. If the dashboard shows Install / Repair Dependencies, choose it and wait until it finishes.

Details: Install ForgeNode.

3. Activate the workstation

  1. On the ForgeNode dashboard, choose Activate License.
  2. Complete the pairing in the browser window that opens.
  3. Back in the Web workspace, check that the status bar shows ForgeNode Connected.

Details: Activate and connect.

4. Create a project

In Workspace, choose New Project, enter a Project name, and choose Create & continue.

5. Bind the vehicle loads

On the project page, under Vehicle and load-case source, choose the Make, Model, and Year range, then Load vehicle loads. Check the Radial load and Angular torque. The page saves a Fitment snapshot automatically.

6. Run the analysis

  1. Under Choose analysis speed, select Standard (GPU) or CPU Standard.
  2. Under Wheel design geometry, choose your STEP, IGES or X_T file.
  3. Under Wheel material, choose 6061-T6 Aluminum or AZ80A-T6 Magnesium. See Choose the wheel material.
  4. Check the project, file, vehicle, material, and route, then choose Add to FEA queue once.

If the button reads Enable local ForgeNode access, choose it first and allow the browser prompt. See Run an analysis.

7. Read the result

The result opens automatically when the run is verified. Read the verdict (FEA PASSED, FEA FAILED, or FEA review required), then check the three fields and the applied load case. See Read a result.

8. Export the report

On the result page, choose Download PDF Packet, pick a report language, and choose Generate PDF. See Reports.

One-minute checklist

Before a run: ForgeNode Connected, correct project, vehicle loads bound, wheel material chosen, route available, correct STEP file, allowance checked.

After a run: verdict read, stress, displacement and safety factor inspected, applied loads checked, PDF exported if needed.