topic Re: shape generator in Inventor Forum

shape generator

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 07:56:11 GMT

I have used Shape Generator with some simple load cases but it is more realistic for components to be subject to varying loads, often in different directions. Is there a workflow to cope with this? I can imagine running the separate cases then overlaying the optimized geometry but clearly the sum of two optimized geometries is not an optimized geometry.

Re: shape generator

Mark.Lancaster — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 13:48:52 GMT

@Anonymous

The outcome from the shape generator is based on the information that you provide. If this component is under different loads based on different directions than you must include all that information. I'm not a FEA user or expert but from what I know in shape generator you can't take 2 separate results and combine them together and think its going to work (in the real word). So let me ask you this.. Why can't you set up the loads in the model as in real life?

Re: shape generator

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 13:57:59 GMT

Take a simple example of a lever. If you put push and pull loads on the lever in the model then they will cancel each other out.

If you do a "push" analysis then a "pull" analysis and add the two generated shapes together you will get something that is probably stronger than necessary. Most real life products have such varying loads so if there is no way to address such loads it limits the usefulness of the tool to cases where one load dominates.

Re: shape generator

mcgyvr — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:52:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Take a simple example of a lever. If you put push and pull loads on the lever in the model then they will cancel each other out.

If you do a "push" analysis then a "pull" analysis and add the two generated shapes together you will get something that is probably stronger than necessary. Most real life products have such varying loads so if there is no way to address such loads it limits the usefulness of the tool to cases where one load dominates.

In product design there is only one loading condition that matters... The worst one..

Design to the worst case loading and all else falls into place..

Re: shape generator

Jan_Booysen1 — Wed, 10 May 2023 19:01:56 GMT

Nope, wrong. In real life one load may govern for bending, another for shear and yet another for torsion. I agree with the original poster. If there is no workflow to combine load cases, the shape generator is of limited use.

Re: shape generator

Jan_Booysen1 — Wed, 10 May 2023 19:05:25 GMT

Oh, and you also can’t simply combine the loads, as they do not necessarily occur at the same time, i.e. non concurrent loads. Read the section on load combinations in any structural design standard.

Re: shape generator

Jan_Booysen1 — Wed, 10 May 2023 19:09:39 GMT

You can set up the loads as in real life. Lets say, for example, tension and bending in one study and a torsional load in another study. The problem is you then have two, probably very different, optimised shapes. How do you combine them?

Re: shape generator

johnsonshiue — Thu, 11 May 2023 01:56:49 GMT

Hi Jan,

Inventor Shape Generator is good for studying a singular existing part by removing non-critical mass. I suggest you look into Fusion Generative Design or Fusion Automated Design.

Many thanks!