The Advanced User Settings give the possibility to (re-)start an optimisation with a Start Space. With this option already optimised results can be modified, e.g. struts can be added or removed, and this new geometry can be used as the starting point of the optimisation. With this Two-Stage-Optimisation already optimised geometries can be highly influenced and steered in the desired direction.
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Now the exported geometry is imported into your MSC Apex Generative Design project.
Attention: The Unit system for of the export exported design from the post processing Post Processing and the chosen unit system for the import must be the same.
The imported geometry is displayed in your model tree as a new part with as a faceted solid.
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Step 3: Creation of an additional strut
With the sketching Sketching and geometry tools Geometry Tools inside MSC Apex Generative Design an additional strut can be created. First, two planes are placed on which the beginning and ending of the strut are sketchedwhere the strut is to begin and end. These planes are created with the Sketching ToolsTool by sketching a rectangle on one of the global planes. The Transform Tool enables the user to place the planes on the desired positions.
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Second, the beginning and ending of the new strut are created on the datum planes. Therefore, two circles are sketched on these planes. The circles should be created inside in the same part as the already existing geometry so that the new strut has direct contact to the previous geometry.
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To create the new Start Space the just created strut and the imported optimised shape can be merged with a Boolean Operation.
There It is no not a problem if the strut isn’t perfectly integrated into the design. It only has to be in contact with the existing shape. The optimisation will redefine the structure accordingly to the Boundary Conditions and Stress Goal.
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The resulting faceted solid needs to be exported as an STL-file.
Attention: The units unit has to be in Metersmeters!
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Step 5: Start of the optimisation with the modified Start Space
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For the copied Scenario the Advanced User Settings have to be set-up. The path to the previously exported new modified Start Space has to be selected. Furthermore, the Advanced User Settings are used to adjust the number of iterations for each resolution levelResolution Level. In most of the cases a Two-Stage-Optimisation should start directly on the highest resolution level Resolution Level or at least on the last two resoultion levelsResolution Levels.
In this case twelve iterations on the last resolution level Resolution Level are entered. How to adjust the number of iterations for each resolution level Resolution Level is explained here.
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The optimisation starts now with the modified geometry as the first iteration. At the end of the optimisation the strut is integrated completely into the design. Because the new strut is now loaded with stresses other areas of the geometry are less loaded. The optimisation reduces the material accordingly at these areas, thus in most cases the new, modified design is as lightweight as the previous one.
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The following commands have to be added to the Advanced User Settings:
Mask.modified_iteration_64.path = modified_iteration_64.stl |
modified_iteration_64 is the name of the exported and selected Start Space and has to be changed accordingly to the chosen name.
The complete MSC Apex GD project with all results can be downloaded here:
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