Introduction: Octostool - Generative Design in Fusion 360

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This experiment was my first introduction to generative design in Fusion 360 for the Computational Design and Fabrication course at MAT. The design task was to create a structurally optimized or generative chair. I chose to work with generating a stool with eight legs to learn the basic workflow of the system.

Supplies

Autodesk Fusion 360

Creality Ender 3 Pro

Step 1: Setting Up the Base Generative Design Study.

I started by creating extruded objects for the eight legs and the stool seat. I also created geometries to act as obstacles to promote eight individual legs to form. I set the base of the legs as fixed constraints and added a load force to the stool seat.

Step 2:

Running the study produced a view geometries that seemed to converge to very similar results. I chose one somewhat arbitrarily in this first study to export it and 3d print it.

Step 3: 3d Print

The stool was designed to fit a human. The generated mesh was exported as an STL and sliced in Cura, scaled uniformly to 5%, and printed using brims and support structures. I will post the final print results when it is finished.

I should probably have printed at a slightly larger scale, as the legs are quite thin and two feet broke off as I removed it from the bed. The support structure is too substantial to remove without damaging the model.