Two kinds of geometries can be defined in inside the MSC Apex Generative Design Configuration File - spaces Spaces and masksMasks.
The main difference between these two types of geometry definition is that only the space is always defined with the material information and masks Design Space is categorized as a Space. Because a space gets the additional information regarding the material of the geometry. Whereas Masks are just marking areas in the part. Design Space such as Non-Design Spaces, Constraints, Forces etc. always refer to masks.
The Design Space is always defined as a space and therefore receives the material information. There is a space. This is always considered
Bookshelf example:
The Bookshelf tutorial hat by adding attributes explained below. For every creation of a Non-Design Space or another boundary condition a new Mask is being created. However, if you simultaneously select multiple cells in the Constraints Tool and then create one all cells are saved in just one Mask. This creation and handling of the Masks is very important for the Keep Non-Design Spaces Function. You can find more information on how to apply loads and boundary conditions for this function here.
To get a good understanding of the difference the example of the Bookshelf Tutorial is used.
Example: Generative Design - Bookshelf
The Bookshelf is a beginner tutorial with just a few Non-Design Spaces and boundary conditions. Thus, it is a great example to explain and to have a look at the different geometries.
It has one Design Space, four Non-Design Spaces, one mask Mask representing the force application area and three masks Masks representing the fixation application area. The Space and Masks are marked in the picture below.
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The input in the Configuration File looks as follows:
#=================Geometry=====================================
...
Space Bookshelf
.path = Bookshelf.stl
.material = 316L
.E-Modul = 192372000000.000000
.Poisson = 0.300000
.density = 7.970000e+03
...
Mask Force_-Moment_1
.path = Force_-Moment_1.stl
Mask.Force_-Moment_1.nonDesign
Mask.Force_-_Moment_1.preserve
Constraint application regions
Mask Constraint_1
.path = Constraint_1.stl
Mask.Constraint_1.nonDesign
Mask.Constraint_1.preserve
Mask Constraint_2
.path = Constraint_2.stl
Mask.Constraint_2.nonDesign
Mask.Constraint_2.preserve
Mask Constraint_3
.path = Constraint_3.stl
Mask.Constraint_3.nonDesign
Mask.Constraint_3.preserve
...
Space
...
Space Spacename
...
Each object is given a unique name Spacename.
...
.path = Design.stl
...
The path is the name of the file.
...
.material = Steel
...
User-defined material name. This will not be used any further in the optimisation process.
...
.E-Modul = 210000.000000
...
Young's Modulus according to the unit scheme used (here MPa).
...
.Poisson = 0.33
...
Poisson ratio.
...
.density = 7.9e-9
...
Density of the material.
...
Cells
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Mask Maskname
...
Each object is given a unique name Maskname.
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.path = Non_Design_Region_1.stl
...
The path is the name of the file.
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Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.nonDesign
...
Defines the mask as a Non-Design Region
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Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.useCentreOfTheSurface
Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.useOnlySurface
...
The mask represents a surface.
...
Mask.Non_Design_Region_3.preserve
...
#==============================================================
Although the Non-Design Space at the top and the Force Application is the same geometry, separate masks are created for each new condition.