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Training:

Relevant data for this tutorial:

Step 1: Start MSC Apex Generative Design

The program starts and you can directly create your optimisation model

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

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• For the force input the Clearance Region Tool is used with an offset of 3 mm to ensure that there is enough space around it. Only the faces around the middle of it are chosen, cause because the rest is already covered with the acces regionsaccess regions. The force input is a Retained Volume in this optimisation. It should always be connected to the Design Space via Non-Design Spaces (including Machining Allowances).

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• To create the Access Region the Access Region Tool is used again - only this time the “cross section” method

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• Click Create Configuration and a GD Configuration will be created

• Click Apply Configuration and the tool executes all necessary Boolean Operations

• The final Design Space is created

For the next steps hide all the other Parts of the Assembly except for the Design Space. You should also hide the Machining Allowances of the active Design Space to have better access to apply the loads & boundary conditions.

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• You can see the included parts of the GD Configuration by double clicking the GD Configuration in the Model Browser

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• Create the material in the Materials editor and assign it to the Design Spaceand create a material for the Retained Volume and assign it

• The specific values needed are the Young's Modulus (70000 MPa), Poisson ratio (0.27) and Density (2.7e-6 kg/mm³)

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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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In this case four forces and one moment are defined. The first two are applied on the retained volume and the last three on the Non-Design Space that is connected to the sensor:

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Three constraints are created and attached on the Non-Design Spaces on the lower side:

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Step 4: Definition of load cases

The next steps are defined in the Studies area.

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• Active in Event1: Force-Moment 1, Force-Moment 3, Force-Moment 5, Constraint 1, Constraint 2 and Constraint 3

• Active in Event2: Force-Moment 2, Force-Moment 4, Constraint 1, Constraint 2 and Constraint 3

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Step 5: Definition of optimisation parameters

The optimisation parameters are selected in the Studies Area as well.

• Select the Strut Density: Medium

• Select the Shape Quality: Balanced

• Set the Complexity Setting: 1622

• Enter theStress Goal: 17 MPa

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).

You can check the status of the optimisation in the GD Status and get more information on Warning and Error messages. This can be done directly in the Post-Processing as well as in the Studies tab for an optimisation that has already run.

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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

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

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You might also be interested in these tutorials:

• Symmetry Optimisation - Bridge

• NURBS Retransition Full Workflow - GD-Bracket

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