This section contains a detailed description for the use of the Frontend of MSC Apex Generative Design 2019.

For a better understanding the overall explanation is clustered in different chapters.

Starting the Program

The AMendate program allows to build an optimization model, to start this optimizationon a local level as well as via an interface with a server and to visualize the results.

When the program is started, the projects menu appears first. In the "Local working directory" the storage location of the projects can be seen. The location can be chosen arbitrarily. In the "Projects" tab, an existing project can be renamed and opened, or a new project can be created. In addition, in the "Example Projects" tab, already prepared example optimizations can be opened and used as a template or tutorial.

The menu can be accessed at any time via the "Menu" filed. Next to this the name of the currently active project is located.

Summary

Menu "Projects" to create or open new projects
There should be no spaces or special characters in the memory path
"Sample Projects" offers already built up optimizations as templates and tutorials

Settings

The settings button opens a menu in which various visualization and general settings can be made. All settings are saved and retained when the program is reopened. (For professionals: in the file XXXXX further settings can be made on text basis.)

The tab "Visualization" offers settings around the image area. Both the graphical representation of the objects and the representation of the boundary conditions and results can be changed.

The tab "General" contains the language of the interface, the used unit system and the definition of a standard load case activated from the beginning.

Summary

The settings meu offers many options fpr customizing the software, divided into the tabs "Visualization" and "General"

Optimization

For the optimization with MSC Apex Generative Design 2019 an optimization model needs to be setup in the program. The steps are explained in the subpages as well as in the Tutorials. This setup consists of the geometry data in form of the stl files and the configuration file .amendate which contains all the information the algorithm needs to consider the setup of the optimization. In your peoject folder the setup looks like this:

Once an optimization is started, the program automatically creates a new folder to save all the optimization results.

In every iteration geometry files as well as information in log files depending on the selection are saved in this folder. More information about the different result files and export commands can be found here.

Visualization Space

All loaded objects as well as forces, moments and fixations are displayed in the visualization area during the model generation. In the results area, the view changes to display the calcualtion results.

Using the buttons in the lower right area, you can select both an orthographic and a perspective view, as well as different views according to the coordinate axes. In addition, screenshots of each view can be created and automatically saved in the designated folder. Only the visualization area and the coordinate system are considered. The program interface itself is not saved.

The "Explosion" function pulls the individual objects apart to ensure a better view of the individual objects. Sometimes boundary conditions in this representation can be better applied to individual sub-objects.

In the visualization area there is a field in the bottom left corner in which messages are played back to the user. These messages contain both positive messages, e.g. when successfully loading a new file, and error messages, which are intended to draw the user's attention to a particular situation. This field can also be expanded upwards to display older messages.

The display of the coordinate system can be reduced/enlarged or deactivated via the settings menu. In addition, the background pattern and color, brightness, shading and edge smoothing strength can be adjusted. In addition, the colors of the objects and boundary conditions can be adjusted according to your own ideas

Summary

Display of all relevant information in the visualization area
Extensive adjustments possible via the settings menu
Various buttons at the bottom right to control the display
Success and error messages are displayed in the information field

Model Generation and Visualization of an Optimization

The program is mainly divided into the three areas "Configuration", "Optimization" and "Results". The "Configuration" tab contains all settings for load cases, loads, materials and solids. Analogue the settings for the optimization parameters are entered in the Optimization tab. In the last tab "Results" the progress can be followed and the results can be viewed after starting the calculation.

The project can be saved at any time at the bottom left and continued at a later time.

Configuration: Definition of the Optimization Model

The Configuration area contains the "Load Cases" area in which load cases are added and/or removed. A name will be assigned to each load case, e.g. braking or accelerating. Either all required load cases can be created directly at the beginning or step by step during model construction.

Below are three further tabs, which are described in the following:

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