Here are the key highlights of our 20232024.3 1 release:
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Optimize first eigenfrequency
MSC Apex Generative Design can now also optimize for the first eigenfrequency to increase it above a certain threshold while generating an optimized lightweight design at the same time.
(additional MSC Nastran installation and license required)
Minimum thickness
This feature is currently only available via Advanced User Settings and allows for stating a minimum thickness of the generated structures. It helps strike a balance between weight optimization and structural strength, avoiding designs that may be impractical or prone to manufacturing issues, contributing to durability.
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New support reduction strategy
Given Supervoxel technology and the reworked optimization algorithm, the support reduction for additive manufacturing was also entirely overhauled and improved.
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Reworked optimization algorithm
The completely reworked optimization algorithm, makes use of our new Supervoxel technology and enables design rules for other manufacturing technologies in the future.
Backend: Supervoxel technology
The development of our new backend technology “Supervoxel” combines high resolution geometry representation with reasonable FE complexity. This new technology allows creating high quality results with unprecedented simulation speed and accuracy at the same time. It also enables a new, detailed representation of geometric fineness for new features coming soon. Supervoxel is now activated and automatically used by the software as a standard technology.
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Mission Switch
A direct switch between Apex Generative Design and Apex Structures to further enhance and ease the process of result validation with a comprehensive FE simulation without export/ import of data and without switching the software
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Casting (Advanced User Settings)
Relevant manufacturing constraints for casting are now implemented, allowing to create optimized, castable designs with a highly automated workflow.
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Mass Target (Advanced User Settings)
This feature allows users to define a specific mass goal for their optimized designs, suitable for scenarios with specific weight limitations or objectives related to material usage.
RBE2 / RBE3 (Advanced User Settings)
These features facilitate constraint coupling and load distribution in structural models, enabling users to accurately simulate and optimize designs under various operational conditions.
Rotational Freedom for fixations (Advanced User Settings)
This new functionality allows certain fixations to rotate freely. This addition enhances simulation accuracy in scenarios where specific components need rotational mobility.
Maximum thickness (Experimental Function)
With this feature the user can set a value for the maximum size of generated structures to avoid too big material accumulation and achieve better manufacturability. Currently, this is only a tech demo and available via the Advanced User Settings
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Bug fixes / Improvements:
Soft symmetry enhancements (stability, clarity, robustness)
Performance improvements for min/max thickness
Improvement surface generation / smoothing generally
Improvement surface generation for automated intersection robustness
Display of the displacement result corrected
Several performance improvements for various algorithms