Mid-Progress Milestone - Final Project

Simulation driven design

Elevator Pitch

My project develops a streamlined workflow to convert complex simulation data into 3D printable models by segmenting surface meshes based on deformation data. My project will transform volumetric simulation outputs into surface meshes that can be directly used by slicing software, optimizing them for 3D printing. Demonstrated through a bike seat case study, this process will allow for precise control over material properties and infill densities, enhancing the final product’s functionality and comfort.

Implementation

Overview

The image below shows an overview of my project. The inputs of the workflow are a CAD model, in this case, a bike seat. The first section of the workflow involves meshing and simulation. I chose nTopology over ABAQUS because it was easier and quicker to use. nTopology is used to convert the CAD model into a volumetric mesh. Next, boundary conditions are applied to fix the bottom of the seat to the mount and apply a load to the top. The results of the simulation include a list of the vertices of the mesh and their displacements. I then export the mesh and the point map to separate files.

The next step involves code I wrote. My code reads in the volumetric mesh as a list of tetrahedrons. It then reads the displacement point map and matches each displacement with the correct point in the list of tetrahedrons. At this point, we have a list of tetrahedrons, each with 4 vertices. Each vertex contains an XYZ point along with a displacement. To slice this into submeshes, we need to be able to sample the displacement of arbitrary XYZ locations within the mesh. I will detail how my code can sample this data arbitrarily and how it maps displacements into a multi-material field later. I then use a custom version of the Marching Cubes algorithm that samples the volumetric field based on material distribution into segmented sub-meshes. Each mesh represents a certain range of displacement values (i.e. high, medium, low, none).

After exporting the sub-meshes, I import them into Prusa Slicer. I mate the sub-meshes together, along with the base mount, and assign materials. The mount gets assigned a hard PLA material, while the seat sub-meshes all get assigned soft TPU. To create the effect of multi-material-like behavior using only TPU, I assign different infill densities. The simulation indicates that the center of the seat is unsupported, so I assign a high infill density to create a stiffer region. The infills are graded such that they become softer as they move towards the ends of the seat. Once all the settings are applied, I can slice and print the object.

Simulation with nTopology

The video below shows the volumetric mesh computed by nTopology.

The image below shows the simulation setup and results. The purpose of this model is to demonstrate what happens when a seat is designed without sufficient support in the center of the mesh. The seat comprises two sub-parts: the body and the mount. The mount is treated as a undeformable bar affixed to the body, while the body is simulated as a TPU-printed object. I do not model contact in the simulation; instead, I fix the faces in the body that touch the mount. A downward force is applied to simulate a rider sitting on the body. From the simulation results, we can see significant deformation in the center of the body when a rider sits on it. Using this information, we will enhance the structural integrity by introducing higher-density infill to reduce deformation. However, this could compromise comfort in those areas, so a balance must be struck.

My Code: Converting Simulation Results into Segmented Meshes

I now have code that reads in the simulation results, maps a distribution of infills/materials, and segments the model into sub-meshes based on this distribution for import into Prusa Slicer. The image below shows the output of my code when I slice the simulated model into four sub-meshes. Each of these meshes represents a certain range of deformation (intuitively: none, low, medium, and high).

I’ve been primarily focused on developing the algorithm, and I will provide more documentation for this section by the final deadline. I also plan to create figures to explain my approach in detail. Likewise, I will provide the code then.

Preparting to Print with Prusa Slicer

I imported the sub-meshes into Prusa Slicer and allowed the program to treat them as a multi-material object. This ensures I can translate and rotate the object as a single unit. The image below shows how I can set the infill density for each sub-mesh. I assigned the same TPU material to each sub-mesh, while the mount received a hard PLA material. I also enabled supports to ensure stability during printing.

The images below show the sliced preview in prusa slice. From this you can see the graded infill pattern.

Printing the Seat

This is what is next up. I have been spending some time testing our Prusa XL with water-soulable supports (PVA), TPU, and PLA in a single print. I think I have the settings dialed in. Prusa Slicer thinks it will take around 36 hours to print.