Which FEA Software is Best for Basic Static Analysis and Thermal Conduction?

[MRFMengineer]

We currently are running PTC Creo 2.0 for our CAD software and are looking into bringing some basic FEA capabilities in house. Should we just bite the bullet and get Creo Simulate extension? Or so I bother to spend the time looking into other packages? I have used Algor in the past, but they are owned by Autodesk now, would rather stay with PTC or go with a smaller company.

We need to be able to do some basic static FEA and maybe thermal conduction. Has anyone had luck with open source or low-cost programs?

 

[goeasyon]

If your CAD data can be exported into the STEP file format, then try WELSIM, which can directly import your CAD data and run your static FEA analysis.