Part Modeling > Part Modeling > Engineering Features > Lattice > To Create Beam-based Lattice
To Create Beam-based Lattice
When you create beam-based lattice, you choose a three-dimensional cell shape, and a configuration of beams inside the lattice cell.
Stochastic lattice, a type of beam-based lattice, is described in a separate topic listed under the Related Links.
1. Click Engineering > Lattice. The Lattice tab opens.
2. Next to Lattice type, select Beams, and define the following:
a. To define the direction with which the z-axis of the cell is aligned, under Cell Direction, select Z, X, or Y.
b. To define how the lattice cells are propagated in the internal volumes, under Cell Propagation, select one of the following:
To add lattice cells one after the other in straight lines and layers, click Regular.
To add lattice cells in a circular pattern, click Quasi-radial, and type a value for Base cell number.
To add lattice cells in herringbone structure, click Herringbone. Herringbone propagation requires a non-zero skew angle.
Skewing angle 30º
Skewing angle 45º
c. To set the size of the cell relative to the current size of the cell, under Cell Scale, type a value, and press ENTER.
d. To define the lattice representation, in the Representation list, select an option:
Full geometry—Accurate appearance, includes all properties. Requires more resources and might cause the system to be slow, particularly when the lattice contains a large number of lattice cells.
Simplified—Lightweight approximation of the lattice.
Homogenized—Creates a quilt to represent the lattice volume. It defines the lattice without actually creating it in the model. Used for dense lattice structures, as it considerably reduces model size and analysis run time.
3. Click the Lattice Region tab, and define the lattice region. See To Define the Lattice Region.
4. For lattice that does not replace a body, you can define the body to which the feature is added. Click the Body Options tab, and perform one of the following actions:
To add geometry to an existing body, click the body collector, and then select the body to which geometry is added.
To create the feature in a new body, select the Create new body check box. The name of the new body appears in the body collector.
5. Click the Cell Type tab, and define the cell shape and size:
a. Under Cell Shape, select Triangular, Square, Hexagonal, or Octagonal.
b. To set the dimensions of the cell, next to Cell size, type the values of the X, Y, and Z dimensions of the cell, in the model units.
c. To set the slanting angle of the cell, next to Skewing angle, type a value.
6. Click the Cell Fill tab, and define the lattice beams:
a. Under Cell Structure:
a. To set the internal structure of the cell, next to Configuration, select an option, and then choose beam types:
Custom
Inner horizontal beams
Inner vertical beams
Inner horizontal beams and inner vertical beams used together
Outer horizontal beams
Outer vertical beams
Outer horizontal beams and outer vertical beams used together
Angular beams
Outer truss beams
Inner truss beams
Clear all
Star
The Star configuration uses only Angular beams.
Truss
The Truss configuration uses only Outer truss beams and Inner truss beams. Available for Square and Triangular cell shapes.
b. To define how to handle beams that are not attached at both ends to the lattice or to solid geometry, in the Dangling beams list, select an option:
Keep—Keeps all dangling beams.
Remove—Removes all dangling beams.
Remove by surfaces—Removes the dangling beams at the selected surfaces. Then click the Surfaces collector, and select surfaces that define open boundaries.
Optionally, click Details to open the Surface Sets dialog box to select surfaces.
c. When Straight profile is selected, to add balls at the corners where the beams intersect and in the center of the cell, select the Ball diameter check box, and then type a value to define their sizes.
d. To create rounds at the concave edges between the lattice balls and beams, select the Round radius check box, and type the radius value. The round radius is ignored when you create lattice with varied density. Available for Full geometry representation.
b. Under Beam Cross Section:
a. To define the shape of the beam cross section, next to Cross section type, select a shape.
b. To define the size of the beam cross section, next to Cross section size, type a value.
c. Under Beam Profile:
a. To define the shape of the beam, next to Profile type, select a shape:
Straight
Parabolic, and then type values to define these parameters:
Parabolic radius
Profile coefficient
7. To create lattice with varied density, see the topics in the links below.
8. To add transition beams between the lattice and the internal horizontal walls (ceiling) of the bounded lattice volume, see To Define Lattice Transitions.
9. Click OK.