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Goal of this tutorial

  • Get familiar with symmetry function

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Training:

Relevant data for this tutorial:

View file
namePedal.x_t

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, .step, and .sldprt files into the program.

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  • Open the Design Space Tool in the Optimization Tools to select the imported Geometry as the Design Space. Activate the Symmetric Design Constraint and select the YZ plane to set up the symmetric optimisation.

  • Non-Design Spaces have to be selected using the Non-Design Spaces Tools. In this case all already existing cells (partitions) can be selected

  • Machining Allowances should be applied to every functional surface. Adjacent Faces should be selected at once, to create one coherent Machining Allowance. Therefore the automatic execution mode can be turned off.

  • In this case a value of 1 mm was chosen. How much Machining Allowance is necessary, depends on the dimensions of the part and the manufacturing process/machine.

  • For the next steps, the Non-Design Spaces as well as the Machining Allowances are hidden.

  • Create the material Steel 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

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 Constraint1

Step 5: Definition of optimisation parameters

The optimisation parameters are selected in the Studies Areaas well.

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Don’t forget to save the project!

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!)

  • The Strut Densityinfluences the structures which are formed during optimisation

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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The whole MSC Apex Generative Design project with all results can be downloaded here: Coming Soon!

You might also be interested in these tutorials:

  • Generative Design - Bookshelf

  • Generative Design - GD-Bracket

  • Restart Optimisation