How do you create a new part in Abaqus?

To create a new part in Abaqus/CAE, follow these steps:

• Launch Abaqus CAE.
• Choose the type of analysis for your model, typically standard or explicit, from the model database.
• Click on the ‘create part’ icon in the CAE window.
• In the dialog box that appears, enter the name of the part, select the type of part (solid, shell, etc.), and set the ‘approximate size’, which determines the size of the sketcher grid.
• Use the Abaqus sketcher, which provides geometry-based tools on the left, to sketch your part in the main window, similar to other CAD utilities.
• After sketching the geometry, you can add additional details or features at the bottom of the sketcher window.
• Press the middle mouse button to confirm the geometry you’ve created. Exit the sketcher by pressing ‘DONE’ or the middle mouse button again.
• Follow any additional prompts to finalize the creation of the part, such as defining extrusion depth if the part is an extrusion.
• The newly created part will appear in the model tree on the left side of the screen, with all its features, and the solid representation will be visible in the main design window.

Remember to save your work regularly, as Abaqus CAE does not automatically save your model database. For more detailed instructions on using the sketcher tools, you can refer to the Abaqus CAE user’s manual.