FEA solver — defined

Finite Element Analysis is how engineering predicts structural and thermal behavior. The solver is the engine; the hub is where jobs, files, and review live on-prem.

What an FEA solver is

FEA means Finite Element Analysis: a numerical method that predicts how a part or assembly responds to loads — stress, strain, deflection, heat, vibration, and related fields.

An FEA solver is the computation engine. It takes a mesh (geometry broken into elements), material models, boundary conditions, and loads, then solves the governing equations to produce field results engineers review against allowables.

Inputs

CAD/mesh, composite layups and ply properties, fixtures, thermal and mechanical loads, contact and constraints.

Outputs

Stress/strain maps, margins of safety, modal shapes, heat maps, deformed geometry, pass/fail against design rules.

For OrbitalStructural and thermal checks on composite parts, tooling, and cell fixtures — before and alongside path work on the floor.
MD Hub roleHost the job plane on-prem: queue solves, store meshes and results, portal UI for submit/review, identity and audit. Integrate a chosen engine (Orbital’s existing stack or an agreed open/commercial solver) rather than inventing a proprietary FEA kernel in the first pilot.
Phase timingFEA is named for later in Steven’s note. First value slice is ML pathing/collision + one internal app; FEA rides the same on-prem job and file plane when the first slice is stable.
Not the same as pathingPath/collision ML answers “will the robot move safely.” FEA answers “will the part and tooling hold under load.” Both belong on the hub; they are different workloads.

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