Don`t " Swiss Cheese " ... Optimize !
Altair EmployeeLets say you have a Clip that needs to withstand forces to its jaws, and has to fit within set dimensions as it has to be secured by two bolts, and you would like to reduce its weight...
Your first instinct may be to quickly "Swiss Cheese" the part.
But where to drill the holes? How many holes is too many? Would the part be strong enough to perform its function without failure?
Instead, use Altair Inspire. Just provide a design space as per your set dimensions, apply loads and choose the material, and let Altair Inspire create the most lightweight, yet strong part shape possible.
Inspire uses topology optimization a technology for developing optimized lightweight structures considering design parameters like expected loads, available design space, materials, and cost, enabling the creation of designs with minimal mass and maximal stiffness (lightweight yet strong).
Most students need little to no training to use Inspire to optimize... and it produces results in minutes in many cases.
You now have a lightweight yet strong part to use with confidence on your robot.
Do this for all the structural parts in your robot to create the most lightweight and hence fast & best performing robot!