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Goal of this tutorial
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Step 1: Start MSC Apex Generative Design
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2021
The program starts and you can directly create your optimisation model
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You can either create the geometry directly in MSC Apex Generative Design or import already existing files. You can import .xb, .xt, .step, and .sldprt files into the program.
Import/create the Design Space including the Non-Design Spacesin MSC Apex Generative Design 2020 as one solid. For this Bookshelf the already prepared Design Space was imported.
Open the Design Space Tool in the Optimization Tools to select the imported Geometry as the Design Space
Non-Design Spaceshave to be selected using the optimisation Non-Design Spaces Tools. In this case the top plate is created as a Non-Design Spaces with an offset of 1 mm and the three screw holes are being used with an offset of 3 mm for each.
Next the Machining Allowances are for the functional surfaces are being defined with the Machining Allowance Tool. For this Geometry should be applied to every functional surface. It is important to select all Machining Allowances of one volume at once. Therefore the automatic execution mode can be turned off. This way one connected volume is created.
In this case a value of 1 mm was chosen. How much Material Allowance is necessary, depends on the dimensions of the part and the manufacturing process/machine.
The top plate can directly be selected. For the screw holes all functional surfaces have to be selected at once. Therefore, the flash is deactivated and all surfaces are selected and confirmed as in the picture below:
For the next steps, the Non-Design Spaces as well as the Machining Allowances are hidden.
Create the material in the Materials editor and assign it to the Design Space
The specific values needed are the Young's Modulus (192372 MPa), Poisson ratio (0.3) and Density (7.97e-6 kg/mm3)
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Step 3: Definition of boundary conditions
Go to the Loads & Boundary Condition Tool to enter the loads and fixations. Displacements, Forces, Moments, Gravity and Pressure Loads can be applied using different selection options.
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Name | Force/Moment/Pressure/Gravity | Direction | Value in N |
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Force - Moment 1 | Force on cell | z | -1000 |
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One constraint for the three fixation volumes is created and attached on the Non-Design Spaces:
Name | Direction |
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Constraint 1 | x, y, z (=0) |
Constraint 2 | x, y, z (=0) |
Constraint 3 | x, y, z (=0) |
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Step 4: Definition of load cases
The next steps are defined in the Studies area.
All boundary conditions must be assigned to the specific load cases, which are defined as Events. The number of Eventscan be changed by adding/deleting Eventsto the Meshless Generative Design Scenario. The assignment of the boundary conditions to the Eventscan be made in the Loads & Constrains Window. The already created loads and constraints that concern the Design Space are listed in this window and can be activated for each Eventindividually.
Active in Event1: Force-Moment 1 , and Constraint 1, Constraint 2 and Constraint 3
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Step 5: Definition of optimisation parameters
The optimisation parameters are selected in the Studies Area as well.
Select the Strut Density: Medium
Select the Shape Quality: Balanced
Enter theStress Goal: 2 MPa
Don’t forget to save the project!
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If all data is correct, the optimisation can be started and tracked in the Post Processing. The Analysis Readiness function checks if all information is provided and the optimisation can start.
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All result iterations are displayed as soon as they are available. Furthermore, you are able to stop the optimisation in this selection area. However, a Restart is not directly possible.
The optimisation is finished after 64 iterations (Shape Quality: Balanced).
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Generative Design
You can always change the Strut Density, Stress Goal and Complexityto influence the results and try out different options
The Complexitycan be increased for a higher resolution and more detailed result (increased calculation time!)
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The Strut Densityinfluences the structures which are formed during optimisation
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The optimisations below show the influence of the Strut Density when nothing else is changed.
Strut Density: Medium
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Strut Density: Dense
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Strut Density: Sparse
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Step 7: Visualization of Stresses, Displacements & Mass
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You might also be interested in these tutorials:
Generative Design - Jet Engine Bracket
Generative Design - GD-Bracket
Restart Optimisation