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Create lightweight, latticed designs that are functionally optimized and accurate for 3D printing

P
plundh
Thu, Mar 3, 2016 9:14 PM

Hi all-

This is my first post: I have read a lot about a new amazing AutoCAD product
called 'Within' http://goo.gl/RheCg7 that allows users to import STL
designs and optimize internal lattices and skins for lightweighting,
stiffness or flexibility. However, the software is so expensive you can't
even buy it! I would like to know if OpenSCAD has similar features, or if
anyone can recommend other software packages that does the same thing but
are more realistically priced.

Many thanks in advance.

-Peter
London UK

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Hi all- This is my first post: I have read a lot about a new amazing AutoCAD product called 'Within' <http://goo.gl/RheCg7> that allows users to import STL designs and optimize internal lattices and skins for lightweighting, stiffness or flexibility. However, the software is so expensive you can't even buy it! I would like to know if OpenSCAD has similar features, or if anyone can recommend other software packages that does the same thing but are more realistically priced. Many thanks in advance. -Peter London UK -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
DM
doug moen
Fri, Mar 4, 2016 12:40 AM

You could certainly construct those kinds of truss networks in OpenSCAD. A
support library would make it a lot easier, but I don't know what's
available. The specialised GUI and design simulator is not the kind of
thing that OpenSCAD supports.

On Thursday, 3 March 2016, plundh peterlundh@me.com wrote:

Hi all-

This is my first post: I have read a lot about a new amazing AutoCAD
product
called 'Within' http://goo.gl/RheCg7 that allows users to import STL
designs and optimize internal lattices and skins for lightweighting,
stiffness or flexibility. However, the software is so expensive you can't
even buy it! I would like to know if OpenSCAD has similar features, or if
anyone can recommend other software packages that does the same thing but
are more realistically priced.

Many thanks in advance.

-Peter
London UK

--
View this message in context:
http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279.html
Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.


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You could certainly construct those kinds of truss networks in OpenSCAD. A support library would make it a lot easier, but I don't know what's available. The specialised GUI and design simulator is not the kind of thing that OpenSCAD supports. On Thursday, 3 March 2016, plundh <peterlundh@me.com> wrote: > Hi all- > > This is my first post: I have read a lot about a new amazing AutoCAD > product > called 'Within' <http://goo.gl/RheCg7> that allows users to import STL > designs and optimize internal lattices and skins for lightweighting, > stiffness or flexibility. However, the software is so expensive you can't > even buy it! I would like to know if OpenSCAD has similar features, or if > anyone can recommend other software packages that does the same thing but > are more realistically priced. > > Many thanks in advance. > > -Peter > London UK > > > > -- > View this message in context: > http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279.html > Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > > _______________________________________________ > OpenSCAD mailing list > Discuss@lists.openscad.org <javascript:;> > http://lists.openscad.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss_lists.openscad.org > > >
N
Neon22
Sat, Mar 5, 2016 10:05 AM

It looks quite easy to construct the lattice of "beams" in openSCAD and to
then difference() it with a skin model to get an interior support structure.
But no evaluation of the actual changes in strength or any FEM analysis is
available in openSCAD. You would have to do that elsewhere...

Have a go...

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It looks quite easy to construct the lattice of "beams" in openSCAD and to then difference() it with a skin model to get an interior support structure. But no evaluation of the actual changes in strength or any FEM analysis is available in openSCAD. You would have to do that elsewhere... Have a go... -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279p16290.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
P
plundh
Sat, Mar 5, 2016 3:50 PM

Hi Doug+Neon-

Thanks much for replies. I'll start with a simple design of a table leg and
see how far I can optimise design with OpenSCAD.

Best.

-Peter

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Hi Doug+Neon- Thanks much for replies. I'll start with a simple design of a table leg and see how far I can optimise design with OpenSCAD. Best. -Peter -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279p16293.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
L
Lampbus
Sat, Mar 5, 2016 5:39 PM

FEA / FEM software will generally accept an STL. From here on in it gets more
complicated.

As an STL is just the outer skin, you need to generate a full internal mesh
too.

I have used Z88 Aurora from http://en.z88.de/

This is from a German University, it is a bit flaky but I have carried out
some analysis on my own projects. It is Free !

As it is an educational tool, you do need to know a bit - particularly I
found that I had to set up the constraints carefully as there is no
hand-holding and you need to ensure the model will not eg rotate under
offset loads but is still free to deform.

I was using v2a, but I see that it is now up to version 3 - so I must
explore !

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Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

FEA / FEM software will generally accept an STL. From here on in it gets more complicated. As an STL is just the outer skin, you need to generate a full internal mesh too. I have used Z88 Aurora from http://en.z88.de/ This is from a German University, it is a bit flaky but I have carried out some analysis on my own projects. It is Free ! As it is an educational tool, you do need to know a bit - particularly I found that I had to set up the constraints carefully as there is no hand-holding and you need to ensure the model will not eg rotate under offset loads but is still free to deform. I was using v2a, but I see that it is now up to version 3 - so I must explore ! -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279p16294.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
CA
Carsten Arnholm
Sat, Mar 5, 2016 6:09 PM

On 05. mars 2016 18:39, Lampbus wrote:

FEA / FEM software will generally accept an STL. From here on in it gets more
complicated.

I have worked with FEA/FEM software for 20+ years, including design &
development of FEM software (SESAM). Our focus was not solid models so
STL was never used. It is not true that "FEA / FEM software will
generally accept an STL". I have seen many systems that do not.

I guess under special conditions one may imagine using STL as input,
although it seems like a very odd format for that purpose. Which FEM
software is accepting STL files in your experience?

As an STL is just the outer skin, you need to generate a full internal mesh
too.I have used Z88 Aurora from http://en.z88.de/

Indeed, the internal mesh is required. That example is quite
interesting. Have you tried it in practice, i.e. meshing from STL to
solid FEM?

This is from a German University, it is a bit flaky but I have carried out
some analysis on my own projects. It is Free !

Thanks for the tip, I may have a look at that.

Carsten Arnholm

On 05. mars 2016 18:39, Lampbus wrote: > FEA / FEM software will generally accept an STL. From here on in it gets more > complicated. I have worked with FEA/FEM software for 20+ years, including design & development of FEM software (SESAM). Our focus was not solid models so STL was never used. It is not true that "FEA / FEM software will generally accept an STL". I have seen many systems that do not. I guess under special conditions one may imagine using STL as input, although it seems like a *very* odd format for that purpose. Which FEM software is accepting STL files in your experience? > As an STL is just the outer skin, you need to generate a full internal mesh > too.I have used Z88 Aurora from http://en.z88.de/ Indeed, the internal mesh is required. That example is quite interesting. Have you tried it in practice, i.e. meshing from STL to solid FEM? > This is from a German University, it is a bit flaky but I have carried out > some analysis on my own projects. It is Free ! Thanks for the tip, I may have a look at that. Carsten Arnholm
N
Neon22
Sun, Mar 6, 2016 5:37 AM

I see a new one on thingiverse - perhaps use as a guide
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1394337

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I see a new one on thingiverse - perhaps use as a guide http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1394337 -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Create-lightweight-latticed-designs-that-are-functionally-optimized-and-accurate-for-3D-printing-tp16279p16299.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.