OPTIMIZING THE DESIGN OF THE PART
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The part we have designed can be optimized, thus achieving a more efficient
product. Given that the part will rotate clockwise, reshaping the upper part of
the teeth could reduce the weight of the part as well as increase its
resistance. We could also modify the profile of the hole in order to increase
resistance in zones under axle pressure.
To carry out these optimizations, we will use new tools such as NURBS lines. The
final steps in this process will be generating a mesh and visualizing the
changes made relative to the previous design.
This example begins with a file named "optimizacion.gid".
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Choose Open from the Files menu and open the file
"optimizacion.gid".
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The file contents appear on the screen. In order to work more comfortably,
select Zoom In, thus magnifying the image. This option is located both
in the GiD Toolbox and in the mouse menu under Zoom .
Figure 39. Contens
of optimizacion.gid
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Make sure that the "aux" layer is activated.
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Choose Geometry
Edit
Divide
Lines
Num
Divisions .This option divides a line into a specified number of
segments.
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A window comes up in which to enter the number of partitions. Enter 8.
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Select the line segment from the upper part of a tooth (Figure 39) and press ESC
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Using the option Geometry
Create
Point
, and create a point with the coordinates (40, 8.5).
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Choose Geometry
Create
NURBS
line to create a NURBS curve. The NURBS line to be created will pass
through the two first points which have been created on dividing the line at
point (40, 8.5) and by the two last points of the divided line.
Figure 40.
Optimizing the design
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Select the first point through which the curve will pass. To do this use Join
Ctrl-a , located in Contextual in the mouse menu.
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One at a time, select the rest of the points except the last one. Use Join
Ctrl-a each time in order to ensure that the line passes through the
point.
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Before selecting the last point, choose Last Point in the Contextual
menu. Then finish the NURBS line. The result is shown in Figure 40.
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Send the new profile (See Figure 41) to the "profile" layer and eliminate the
auxiliary lines.
Figure 41.
Optimizing the design
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Repeat the process explained in sections 2.11 and 2.12 to create the wheel
surface: use the rotation tool to create the entire profile and, using Geometry
Create
NURBS
Surface
By contour , select it
to create a NURBS surface.
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Repeat the processes explained in section 3 (except section 3.1) and sections
4.1 and 4.2 to create the prismatic volume.
Modifying the profile of the hole
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Move the lines of the octagon placed in the profile surface to the “profile”
layer (with the Send To button).
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Click Off the "prism" layer. Hiding it simplifies the space on the
screen.
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Choose Geometry
Create
Object
Circle
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Enter (-10.5, 0) as the center point. Enter a normal to the XY plane
(Positive Z) and a radius of 1.5.
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From the Toolbox, use the Delete
Surfaces
tool to delete the surface of the circle so that only the line is left.
This way the Geometry
Edit
Intersection
Multiple Lines option
may be used to intersect the circle (circumference). Select only the circle and
the two straight lines that intersect it.
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Choose Copy from the Utilities menu and make seven copies (Multiple
copies =7), rotating the circle -45 degrees.
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Using the intersection options, delete the auxiliary lines leaving only the
valid lines, thus obtaining the new profile of the hole. The result is
illustrated in Figure 42.
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Create the hole in the surface of the wheel using Geometry
Edit
Hole
NURBS Surface (the result is shown in Figure 43).
Figure 42. The new
hole profile
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Figure 43. The
surface of the new optimized design
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Creating the volume of the new design
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Repeat the same process as in section 4.3:
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In the Copy window, choose Translation and Surfaces .
Enter two points that define a translation of 10 units, for example (0, 0, 10)
and (0, 0, 0). (Make sure that the Multiple Copies value is 1).
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Choose Do Extrude Volume in the Copy window.
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Click Select and select the surface of the wheel. Press ESC .
Figure 44. The
volume of the optimized design
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Click On the "prism" layer.