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.
In the following the final result of the Part Consolidation Tutorial will be modified and a Two-Stage-Optimisation will be performed. In this case an additional strut will be added.
Step 1: Export of the already existing geometry
The first step is to export an already existing geometry. For the Part Consolidation Bracket the last iteration is exported. In general, every previous iteration can serve as a Start Space as well.
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Step 2: Reimport of the already optimised geometry
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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The results are two circular surfaces which can be connected to one strut by using the Surface Loft Tool. For this the picking filter on the left side of the tool has to be set to Edges. The result is one strut which is displayed as a solid inside the model tree.
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Step 4: Creation of the Start Space
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
In the last step the optimisation can be (re-)started with the new, modified Start Space. Therefore, the previous Scenario can be copied.
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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Step 6: Additional options
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When a Start Space is used as in this Tutorial, the Start Space is only the starting point of the optimisation and the shape can be further modified by reducing and adding material.
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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.nonDesign |
modified_iteration_64.preserve |
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modified_iteration_64 is the name of the exported and selected Start Space and has to be changed accordingly to the chosen name.