Shape generator does nothing

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I tried the Shape Generator Tutorial and that worked. On my actual part, when I setup the same constraints and click Generate Shape -> Run, there are no warnings and the dialog disappears after a few seconds. I am left with my part as before starting the analysis, and Promote Shape button is grayed out because nothing was generated.

I attached the part here. Does anyone know where to collect error logs for what went wrong?

Thank you!

Autodesk Inventor 2020 Professional (Student)

Build 168, Release 2020.0.1 Thu 04/25/2019

64-bit

[Anonymous]

I double-checked the same part with Fusion gen, and it gave me an error saying it couldn't calculate anything because nothing could be reduced. I adjusted the target to 80% and then it finally took out two tiny pieces... How come all the generative screenshots look cool, but it does nothing on this part? This must be the cause of Inventor returning no results as well.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Valeriy,

I believe you misinterpreted the design. BodySculptFeature leaves unwanted gaps at the top. The narrow gaps create hostile conditions to Shape Gen. Instead of Extrude Cut, I use Face Draft to taper the faces. Please take a look. It should work for Shape Gen now.

Manythanks!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help! I downloaded your modified model and I'm getting the same result. I also deleted all complex operations (like the draft you replaced the profile with) and it still does nothing.

I attempted to download and install the latest update before I posted on here, and it seems like it was installed but the version number did not change. Do you think something might be wrong with my installation/update?

[Anonymous]

I tried the same thing in Fusion (cloud) and it worked again. Doesn't work in Inventor.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Valeriy,

Please share your latest attempt (Inventor file) here. I would like to take a closer look.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

[EDIT]

Something's going on, it worked on the second attempt. Let me look at this further myself as well. There must be a reason it works intermittently.

-0-

Attaching latest attempt (save over your file so it's the same filename).

Everything is simplified and I added more forces just to vary some simulation settings. Feel free to remove forces to simplify - this doesn't work either way for me.

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! It seems to work for me. I am on 2020.2.2 update. You are still on 2020 RTM build. Please install 2020.2 update followed by 2020.2.2 update.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

The update wouldn't let me run it (said Inventor was not found) but I get the simulation to work by using simpler geometry. So I would say, the solution was - simpler geometry and update if you can.

[uri_haladdin]

I found that the Symmetry Planes could be the cause of the error. if I use them, in some cases (especially if the part is thin in the direction of the Symmetry plane) I get nothing. If you turn off the symmetry planes, the shape is created. This is a bug of the inventor. I think developers should be notified.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Uri,

Many thanks for sharing the findings! It sounds like a geometry specific bug. I guess Shape Gen had trouble finding a good solution in the given conditions. I also notice that it seems to be an art to strike the balance between constraints and good results. When there are two few constraints or too many constraints, it is hard to obtain good result.

Many thanks!

[Anonymous]

If anyone's interested in looking at results after I got it to work with simpler geometry (thanks to Uri for finding out about the planes as well), results are here:

https://hackaday.io/project/171607-drumming-robot

Inventor files are checked into Github. I am casting the parts out of aluminum in my foundry, based on a 3D printed model from the Inventor part converted to STL.