Quickstart

Initialize

• Design space can be initialized via two modes.
• SHAPE defines existing geometry (can be imported as well) as design space.
• HULL forms a convexhull excluding existing objects.
• Design space is then saved as a .stl file under the specified workspace_path

Define

• Specify the number of forces acting on the object.
• Assign materials to face(s) corresponding to each force, fixed and non-design space.
• Assign vertex groups to edges that depict the direction of each corresponding force.
• Input the magnitude and click the Expand button to visualize and change direction of each applied force.
• Specify the maximum element size for tetrahedral finite element mesh generation and click Define

Generate

• Select a material for the object.

• Specify optimization parameters:

  • Emin
  • Density change
  • Volumina ratio
  • Penalty exponent

• Specify filter parameters:

  • Number of neighbours
  • Neighbourhood radius

• Read more about these parameters here.
• For a conceptual understanding of these parameters, read Material interpolation schemes in topology optimization.
• Input the number of iterations and click Generate

Visualize

• Specify radius and sensitivity of the metaballs.
• Input the number of keyframes and instantiation points for animation.
• Mention which iteration to visualize and click Visualize.
• The generated metaball object can then be converted into a mesh via Object -> Covert to -> Mesh from Curve/Meta/Surf/Text
• A Smooth Corrective modifier can then be applied on the mesh during export.