Romax Spin

Rapid design

Build parametric models of any full drive system rapidly (in minutes), with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop 2D modelling interface and a live reflection of the model in a 3D visualisation. Models (starting with basic shaft, gear, bearing arrangements) can be created from scratch, imported from other Romax products, from CAD geometry, or via a number of other interfaces such as REXS.

Romax offers multi-fidelity component models across the full system:

• Model helical, spur and planetary gears as loading (ratio only), concept (teeth/module defined), detailed (macro/micro geometry)
• Model bearings as linear stiffnesses, rolling bearings from manufacturer catalogs or custom bearings with full details including micro-geometry profiles
• Import/create and condense FE components (or import from FEA), and model flexible FE bearings and gear blanks

Models can then be converted to MBD, CAD, CFD and other formats to save time on data re-entry.

Full system structural analysis: utilizing state of the art gear and bearing contact models for fast, parallelised static analysis of the full driveline, including deflections, loads, stresses and misalignments.

Combining state of the art gear and bearing contact models with the latest standards and stress-based life calculations, Romax offers fast, accurate prediction of component performance and system structural deformations. Romax’ holistic approach to system simulation considers the cumulative effect of the complex interactions between all components:

• shaft deflections
• gear misalignments and shifting contacts
• housing flexibility
• non-linear, load-dependent bearing stiffness

Analyses are appropriate to the model fidelity, ranging from fast approximations when evaluating design concepts to longer, more detailed analyses during virtual testing and design for manufacture. And crucially, Romax is able to provide this analysis very quickly, thanks to its hybrid approach of FE, analytical and empirical methods. The most computationally-efficient and accurate method is used for each part, and combined into a fully-coupled system simulation that provides the optimal blend of speed and accuracy, specifically designed for powertrain simulation.

Select and analyse bearings quickly, accurately and with confidence, to deliver the perfect bearing arrangement and accurate results for the application.

• Search up-to-date supplier catalogs directly and choose from more than 60,000 bearings from SKF, Schaeffler, Timken, JTEKT and Nachi
• Quickly and accurately predict element and raceway load and stress distribution, rib contact, edge stress, and contact truncation
• Enhanced bearing contact analysis featuring a coupled strip model accurately capturing roller edge stresses, end effects, material yield, rib contact, and truncation
• Evaluate optimum preload/clearance settings and how they are affected by thermal and structural conditions
• Accurate bearing stress including micro geometry means you get the most accurate results from ISO 281, ISO/TS16281 and other life prediction methods
• All calculations are based on a fully-coupled flexible system simulation optimised for speed and accuracy and underpinned by a sophisticated non-linear bearing stiffness model
• Obtain results directly from SKF’s cloud calculation service without leaving Romax Spin 

With the rise of electric vehicles, bearings are operating under increasingly high speeds. Combined with low load conditions, this can lead to a dynamic phenomenon known as bearing skidding. In certain circumstances, bearing skidding can generate excessive frictional heat and high surface shear stress, and subsequently result in efficiency issues or premature bearing failure.

Romax Bearing Dynamics uses a novel approach based on transient time-domain analysis to predict the occurrence of skidding in electric-vehicle bearings in a matter of minutes. The model considers structural, thermal and fluid domains, including the influence of centrifugal and gyroscopic effects on rolling element dynamics, heat generated by the lubricant and associated temperature rise, and rheology and traction behaviour of the lubricating oil.

This application helps design engineers and bearing analysts to avoid damaging failures by designing more reliable bearings and selecting better lubricants, through unique insight of the underlying skidding mechanism and bearing dynamics.