# What is your workflow using Calculix **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [February 7, 2024, 8:50am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068 "2024-02-07T08:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mishal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f17d59/32.png) [@Mishal](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Mishal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 8:50am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/1 "2024-02-07T08:50:31Z")
Greetings all I have been using Calculix through Mecway for private consulting I have done ages ago. The one issue is that I am unable to run Mecway on my work laptop since it is not company software. How do you use Calculix for analysis? There are possibly several ways which I can think of however I would be keen to hear the benefits from people using the software. The two options I have seen are PreProMax and PyCCX. [https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyccx](https://github.com/drlukeparry/pyccx) ---
**Author:** ![dichtstoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@dichtstoff](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/dichtstoff)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 9:17am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/2 "2024-02-07T09:17:25Z")
there are more options: bconverged or calculix for win, see also homepage: [CalculiX: A Three-Dimensional Structural Finite Element Program (dhondt.de)](http://www.dhondt.de/) [CAELinux - Home](https://www.caelinux.com/CMS3/) and check topics here: [Best workflow for beginners - CalculiX (official versions are on www.calculix.de, the official GitHub repository is at https://github.com/Dhondtguido/CalculiX).](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/best-workflow-for-beginners/2060/29) ---
**Author:** ![NorbertH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/74df32/32.png) [@NorbertH](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/NorbertH)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/3 "2024-02-07T10:47:28Z")
If you are using linux you could also try my [calculix component for coreform cubit](https://github.com/calculix/Cubit-CalculiX). Preprocessing will be done in cubit and for the postprocessing you can either use cgx or paraview. I`ve got a .frd and .dat to paraview converter built in, so viewing single parts or integration point results is also possible. The next update will contain a windows build but i don’t have a time shedule for that right now. ---
**Author:** ![tbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@tbrown](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/tbrown)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/4 "2024-02-07T11:35:27Z")
Freecad for geometry and prepomax for FEA. Sometimes cgx to fill the gaps for post processing eg cyclic symmetry For CFD freecad with the openfoam add-on eg to provide pressure loading on FEA model. ---
**Author:** ![Calc\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Calc\_em](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Calc_em)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 11:54am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/5 "2024-02-07T11:54:26Z")
Check this recent thread with a similar discussion: [Best workflow for beginners](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/best-workflow-for-beginners/2060) It may also depend on what you want to simulate. ---
**Author:** ![Mishal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f17d59/32.png) [@Mishal](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Mishal)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/6 "2024-02-07T12:14:01Z")
It seems that PreProMax is probably the best option. I was hoping to see more Python tools, but I have had issues working with some of them. ---
**Author:** ![mmartin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@mmartin](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/mmartin)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 12:26pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/7 "2024-02-07T12:26:54Z")
All the 3D modeling on Freecad and exported to step file system. Preprocessor, calculation (calculix) and post processor on Mecway. Manuel ---
**Author:** ![xyont](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/calculix.discourse.group/xyont/32/3553_2.png) [@xyont](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/xyont)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/8 "2024-02-07T13:55:32Z")
alternative workflow in cross-platform OS: SolveSpace as parametric CAD (Step files), Netgen standalone mesher (tetrahedral and tria/quad element), CGX capabilities to import Vol mesh files including group of nodes. Spreadsheet for analysis template (material database and parameter dependent, layered/composite shell section, coupling constraint, nonlinear spring, etc) ---
**Author:** ![SergioP](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/calculix.discourse.group/sergiop/32/10_2.png) [@SergioP](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/SergioP)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/9 "2024-02-07T16:25:09Z")
If you are in your employer computer, you could model in your actual CAD suite (Solidworks/Solidedge/NX…), and then export as stp. Then use Salome to mesh and create groups of nodes/surfaces/elelemnts, and use the Scite that came with bConverged Calculix to create your input files, and launch CCX and CGX. I did it lot of time as a replacement of Abaqus. You will end creating and understand very clean and compact input files that can be reused easily as they are appart from the mesh file (use the \*INCLUDE card) ---
**Author:** ![rsmith](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/calculix.discourse.group/rsmith/32/1684_2.png) [@rsmith](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/rsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/what-is-your-workflow-using-calculix/2068/10 "2024-02-07T17:52:12Z")
Run FreeCAD/gmsh/CalculiX on your own laptop. The work gets done and no fights with IT. 😁 But tell your supervisor and make sure they have your back on this. They should certainly appreciate the price/performance ratio compared to commercial offerings.