Training:
Relevant data for this tutorial:
Step 1: Create a new project
In a first step, you need to create a new project. All data (geometry and configuration) will be copied and saved directly in a new project folder, located in your workspace:
Start MSC Apex Generative Design 2019
Create a new project using the symbol
Enter a project name and save the project
Open the newly created project
Step 2: Model generation
Upload all relevant stl files by clicking on the symbol in the objects/surfaces area
Select all stl files
The field at the bottom shows notifications to help you generate an optimization model
The uploaded objects are listed in the objects/surfaces area
Assign a Material to each object/surface and enter the specific values for the Young's Modulus (210e3) and poisson ratio (0.28) in the Material Editor
Activate the option design space for the relevant stl file. Only one volume can be selected as such.
In this case: Pedal - design-1
Step 3: Definition of boundary conditions
Go to the boundary conditions tab to enter the loads and fixations. For each boundary condition a name, a space and the specification of the boundary condition is entered as follows:
Name | Object | Direction | Value in N |
|---|---|---|---|
Force | Pedalfootsurface1 | y | -1000 |
Object "Pedalfootsurface1" experiences a force of -1000 N in y-direction (Force). The force of the whole pedal is -2000 N. If you are using the symmetry option, the force must be adjusted to the calculation model. If only half of the component is calculated (symmetry about the XY-Plane), the force must also be cut in half. The example already considers this restriction.
Name | Object | Direction |
|---|---|---|
Fixation | Pedalaxle1 | x, y, z (=0) |
A total of 1 force and 1 fixation should have been created as a result
The object "Pedalfixation1" does not experience any force or fixation but it's necessary to connect the pedal with the axle. Therfore the form is considered in the optimization.
All boundary conditions must be assigned to the load cases. The number of load cases can be changed using the "+" or "-" characters. The assignment of the boundaries to the load cases can be made in the boundary conditions or load cases area by selecting the different boundary conditions while the load case is activated.
Active in Loadcase1: Force and Fixation
Step 4: Definition of optimization parameters
Switch to the optimization area. You can find more information about the parameter selection here.
Choose the design type normal
Enter the optimization goal stress: 60 MPa
Set the symmetry setting: XY-Plane
Open Result File Formats. The following result files should be activated:
stl File: results of each iteration in stl file format
stl Files Intersected: result of each iteration intersected with the design space in stl file format
ply Files with Stress: results with the information of stresses of each iteration (must be activated to show the results in the Visualization space)
ply Files with Displacement: results with the information of displacements of each iteration (must be activated to show the results in the Visualization space)
More information on result file formats here
All Inputs can be viewed and checked in the configuration file. The file should look like this.
Please make sure only one .amendate file is in your project folder.
You can always change the design type, stress and solverMaxMemory to influence the results and try out different options. You can find further information here.
Step 5: Save the Project
Step 6: Starting the optimization and visualizing the results
If all data are correct, the optimization can be started and tracked in the results area.
All result iterations are displayed as soon as they are available. The progress of the optimization can also be monitored via the AMendate log file. Furtheremore you are able to stop the optimization in this selection area. A restart however is not possible.
The optimization is finished after 64 iterations (optimizationtype: optimizing).
Step 7: Visualization of Stresses
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the stresses of each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.
Step 8: Visualization of Displacements
The legend can be influenced using the slider. The function "Automatically set to local minimum and maximum" considers the displacements of each iteration and sets the values from the current iteration.
Step 9: Influence of different settings
By varying the settings the optimization results can be influenced
The solverMaxMemory can be increased for a higher resolution (increased calculation time!). You can find further information here.
The Design Type influences the strucures which are formed during optimization. You can find further information here.
You can generate all the designs below by adjusting these two values (depending on your workstation).