Result Pictures
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Goal of this tutorial
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Training:
Relevant data for this tutorial:
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Step 1: Start MSC Apex Generative Design 2021
The program starts and you can directly create your optimisation model
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Step 2: Model generation
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 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 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.
Machining Allowances 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 createdThus, at the end two geometries are created: The Norm-Geometry and the Print-Geometry.
In this case a value of 1 mm was chosen. How much Material Machining Allowance is necessary, depends on the dimensions of the part and the manufacturing process/machine.
Adjacent Faces should be selected at once, to create one coherent Machining Allowance. Therefore the automatic execution mode can be turned off.
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)
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 | Direction |
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Constraint 1 | x, y, z (=0) |
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Step 4: Definition of Events (load cases)
The next steps are defined in the Studies area.
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Active in Event1: Force-Moment 1 and Constraint 1
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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
Set the Complexity Setting: 14
Enter theStress Goal: 2 MPa
Don’t forget to save the project!
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Step 6: Starting the optimisation and visualizing the results
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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The optimisation is finished after 64 iterations (Shape Quality: Balanced).
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 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
The legend can be influenced in different ways. You can add and reduce the stress/displacement steps, enlarge different steps and set new minimum and maximum values.
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Inside the Post Processing the von Mises stress and the displacements are visible for all iterations and for every Event
The Scale can be influenced individually
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The mass of each iteration can be visualized with a diagram
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The whole MSC Apex Generative Design project with all results can be downloaded here:
You might also be interested in these tutorials:
Generative Design - Jet Engine Bracket
Generative Design - GD-Bracket
Restart Optimisation
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