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Identify areas of your support structure that have the potential for distortion and address these issues prior to printing.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
5 min.
Transcript
00:03
In Netfabb, you can use process simulation data to identify areas on your support structure that require adjustment.
00:12
Identifying these areas prior to manufacture allows you to eliminate or minimize distortion prior to 3D metal printing,
00:20
creating a more efficient and precise manufacturing process.
00:24
In this example, a part with supports is generated for 3D metal printing,
00:30
and simulation data has already been loaded from Netfabb local simulation.
00:35
In the Browser, Supports_2_mechanical.case is selected to open the visualization.
00:44
The color coding indicates that the part will be heavily distorted when manufactured.
00:50
Blue indicates minimal to no distortion, while green, yellow, orange, and red indicate areas of increasing distortion.
01:02
To link the simulation results with the part, in the context view, click Assign simulation to part.
01:09
In the Assign simulation to part dialog, select the part, then click OK.
01:18
Now, you can drag the simulation results over to view them side-by-side in the machine workspace.
01:27
From the Browser, you can switch among the Generate Support, Machine workspace,
01:33
and Simulation results views to identify the support geometries that require improvement.
01:40
You can also link the mechanical simulation results directly with the support.
01:46
With the simulation selected in the Browser, in the context view, click Display for support editing, and then click OK.
01:56
This visualization can help you to determine how best to optimize the supports. Here, in the context view,
02:03
use the slider bars to adjust the Opacity and the Displacement scale to better view the areas in which the supports bend or are deformed.
02:16
You can also adjust the Displacement Magnitude settings,
02:20
such as Show simulated part and Show simulated supports to enable and disable the simulation results for these features.
02:28
Additionally, there are automated optimization options that are especially effective with bar support.
02:35
For example, you can use a density map to apply a yield stress to all bars, so that they are appropriately adjusted.
02:46
Click Generate density map, set the Yield Stress—in this case, to 1500—and then, click Generate.
02:58
There is also an option to optimize your support lattice.
03:02
Optionally, click Optimization Settings first.
03:08
Adjust the settings to better fit your use case, click Save, and then click Optimize Support Lattice.
03:17
Review the progress of your optimization in the Joblist, and notice that the supports automatically adjust as the optimization runs.
03:27
Additionally, the context view updates with a histogram that displays Bar stress as the supports are enhanced.
03:36
Finally, you can use the manual density map controls to adjust the size and thickness of bars in any local area.
03:45
On the ribbon, click Support > Edit Density Map.
03:51
In the view, use your cursor to resize and move the controls.
03:57
Then, use the Size, Density, Clipping and Alignment tools to edit your supports accordingly.
04:07
When you are finished, click Apply to Part.
04:12
Now, you can easily view simulation results to identify areas of your support structure that require adjustment,
04:20
allowing you to optimize your supports, and minimize or eliminate distortion for an efficient 3D metal printing process.
Video transcript
00:03
In Netfabb, you can use process simulation data to identify areas on your support structure that require adjustment.
00:12
Identifying these areas prior to manufacture allows you to eliminate or minimize distortion prior to 3D metal printing,
00:20
creating a more efficient and precise manufacturing process.
00:24
In this example, a part with supports is generated for 3D metal printing,
00:30
and simulation data has already been loaded from Netfabb local simulation.
00:35
In the Browser, Supports_2_mechanical.case is selected to open the visualization.
00:44
The color coding indicates that the part will be heavily distorted when manufactured.
00:50
Blue indicates minimal to no distortion, while green, yellow, orange, and red indicate areas of increasing distortion.
01:02
To link the simulation results with the part, in the context view, click Assign simulation to part.
01:09
In the Assign simulation to part dialog, select the part, then click OK.
01:18
Now, you can drag the simulation results over to view them side-by-side in the machine workspace.
01:27
From the Browser, you can switch among the Generate Support, Machine workspace,
01:33
and Simulation results views to identify the support geometries that require improvement.
01:40
You can also link the mechanical simulation results directly with the support.
01:46
With the simulation selected in the Browser, in the context view, click Display for support editing, and then click OK.
01:56
This visualization can help you to determine how best to optimize the supports. Here, in the context view,
02:03
use the slider bars to adjust the Opacity and the Displacement scale to better view the areas in which the supports bend or are deformed.
02:16
You can also adjust the Displacement Magnitude settings,
02:20
such as Show simulated part and Show simulated supports to enable and disable the simulation results for these features.
02:28
Additionally, there are automated optimization options that are especially effective with bar support.
02:35
For example, you can use a density map to apply a yield stress to all bars, so that they are appropriately adjusted.
02:46
Click Generate density map, set the Yield Stress—in this case, to 1500—and then, click Generate.
02:58
There is also an option to optimize your support lattice.
03:02
Optionally, click Optimization Settings first.
03:08
Adjust the settings to better fit your use case, click Save, and then click Optimize Support Lattice.
03:17
Review the progress of your optimization in the Joblist, and notice that the supports automatically adjust as the optimization runs.
03:27
Additionally, the context view updates with a histogram that displays Bar stress as the supports are enhanced.
03:36
Finally, you can use the manual density map controls to adjust the size and thickness of bars in any local area.
03:45
On the ribbon, click Support > Edit Density Map.
03:51
In the view, use your cursor to resize and move the controls.
03:57
Then, use the Size, Density, Clipping and Alignment tools to edit your supports accordingly.
04:07
When you are finished, click Apply to Part.
04:12
Now, you can easily view simulation results to identify areas of your support structure that require adjustment,
04:20
allowing you to optimize your supports, and minimize or eliminate distortion for an efficient 3D metal printing process.
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