def SetContourRange(minval, maxval, vp='Viewport: 1', minIntervals=10):
    """
    Sets up nice contour ranges in ABAQUS/CAE
    Written by Lance C. Hibbeler, August 2014
    """

    from math import fabs, ceil, floor, copysign
    from abaqusConstants import USER_DEFINED

    minval = float(minval)    # ensure minval is float
    maxval = float(maxval)    # ensure minval is float

    r = maxval - minval          # range of input
    d = int(round(log10(r)))-1   # next lowest power of 10 of range

    # find appropriate interval size from {1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.2}
    for i in [1, 2, 4, 5]:
        numIntervals = int(round(float(i)*r/(10.0**d)))
        if numIntervals >= minIntervals:
            interval = (10.0**d)/float(i)
            break

    # find first interval larger than minval
    if (minval < 0.0) and (maxval > 0):
        s = 1.0
    else:
        s = 0.0
    imin = copysign((ceil(fabs(minval)/interval)-s)*interval, minval)

    # find first interval smaller than maxval
    imax = copysign(floor(fabs(maxval)/interval)*interval, maxval)

    # define intervals
    ival = imin
    intervals = [ival]
    build = True
    while (build == True):
        ival = ival + interval
        if (ival > imax):
            build = False
        else:
            intervals.append(ival)

    # setup abaqus viewport
    co = session.viewports[vp].odbDisplay.contourOptions
    co.setValues(intervalType=USER_DEFINED, intervalValues=intervals)

    return