Your first model: engine bracket

This walkthrough uses a supplied workflow to fill an engine bracket with a spatially varying lattice. You will open the project, check its inputs, inspect the operation sequence, and view the supplied result. You can then run your own variation.

Have these files ready

The example uses the following layout inside the Artisan distribution folder:

Artisan_Dist/
├── ArtisanMain.exe
├── Test_json/
│   └── EngineBracket_HS_Infill_Lin_LR.json
├── sample-obj/
│   └── EngineBracket.STL
└── Test_results/
    └── EngineBracket_HS_Lin_TPMS_Infill_LR.stl

The JSON describes the design, the first STL is the original bracket, and the second STL is an already generated result. The result filename is deliberately different from the JSON filename.

An unchanged copy of the workflow is available here: Engine-bracket workflow. It still requires the geometry and directory layout shown above; downloading the JSON alone does not copy those files.

1. Open ArtGUI and the workflow

1. Launch the ArtGUI / Artisan Workbench desktop application supplied with your installation.

2. Before experimenting, copy the example JSON to a new filename, such as EngineBracket_trial.json, using your file manager. Keep it in Test_json for this walkthrough.

3. Choose Open in ArtGUI and select the copied JSON.

4. Check that the Project panel lists EngineBracket.STL and that the Workflow contains six cards. The source preview loads automatically when its path can be found.

5. Choose Fit view if the bracket is outside the visible area.

Note

Save writes to the file you opened. This version has no separate Save As command. Working on a copy keeps the original example available.

2. Check the source and calculation settings

Select Project settings in the left panel. For the unchanged example, check these values; scroll the Properties panel to see the lower sections.

Engine-bracket settings

Setting	Example value	What to check
Type	Geometry	The bracket file determines the domain.
Geomfile	.//sample-obj//EngineBracket.STL	The path must point to the original bracket.
Resolution	[0.4, 0.4, 0.4]	Keep this for the first run.
Rotation	[0.0, 0.0, 0.0]	No setup rotation is requested.
Padding	1	Retain the example’s domain padding.
Use GPU	Disabled	The example requests CPU calculation.
JSON working directory	Disabled (false)	Relative paths are based on the backend working directory.
Memory limit (bytes)	1073741824	The supplied memory setting is 1 GiB.

With Type = Geometry, the greyed-out Sample bounds do not need to be filled in. They are inactive because the engine reads the geometry’s bounding box.

Choose Backend… and select ArtisanMain.exe in the Artisan_Dist folder shown above if it is not already selected. Keep the complete backend package together with its runtime files.

Important

This example has JsonWorkDir: false. Its paths start at the backend working directory, not at Test_json. Enabling JSON working directory without changing the paths would make the engine look for Test_json/sample-obj/EngineBracket.STL. See Projects, geometry and file paths when moving a project or using a different backend location.

3. Read the six-step design

Select each workflow card to see its parameters. Scroll the workflow strip horizontally if the last cards are hidden.

The supplied operation sequence

Card	Operation	Role in this example
01	Add lattice (Add_Lattice)	Start with SchwarzDiamond, size [8.0, 8.0, 8.0] and thickness parameter 0.2.
02	Linear lattice blend (Lin_Interpolate)	Blend towards another SchwarzDiamond field with thickness parameter 1.4, using planes at X = 90 and X = 45.
03	Linear lattice blend (Lin_Interpolate)	Add a second linear variation with thickness parameter 0.35, using planes at Z = 50 and Z = 20.
04	Sharp lattice transition (HS_Interpolate)	Introduce Cubic with size [5.0, 5.0, 5.0] and thickness parameter 0.5. The transition plane uses point [90.0, 30.0, 50.0] and normal [-1.0, -1.0, 0.0].
05	Attractor lattice blend (Add_Attractor)	Introduce a local Cubic variation at [120.0, 20.0, 50.0], with radius 45.0 and thickness parameter 1.8. This step enables Fill.
06	Export model (Export)	Write the final STL to the path in outfile.

The original JSON uses the keys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 99. ArtGUI displays their ordered positions as six cards. A card number is not necessarily the original JSON key.

Keep the supplied plane normals, transformations, Fill settings and step order for your first run. A thickness parameter does not necessarily equal a measured wall thickness for every lattice type.

4. Inspect the supplied result first

1. Choose Load result and open Test_results/EngineBracket_HS_Lin_TPMS_Infill_LR.stl.

2. Open Visibility. Hide the source so that its solid surface does not cover the lattice result.

3. Select the result with Make active. If it is sampled, choose Load full detail before judging the final surface or measuring it.

4. Use Fit view, then orbit and zoom to inspect the bracket.

The supplied STL opened as a result layer. This is an existing output file, not a live preview recalculated from the current parameter values.

You can stop here if you only want to explore the interface. Loading this result does not require a new Artisan calculation.

5. Generate your own result

1. Select the Export model card. Change outfile to a new name such as .//Test_results/EngineBracket_trial.stl. Check that the output folder exists and is writable.

2. Choose Save. Check the project name at the top of the window.

3. Choose Generate model. ArtGUI saves the current project before starting Artisan; if saving is cancelled or fails, generation does not start.

4. Watch the status row below Workflow. Use Show log for calculation messages. Wait for a successful completion status.

5. Choose Load result and select EngineBracket_trial.stl. Generation does not automatically replace the result already in the viewer.

Post-processing in this example combines meshes and removes isolated parts. It retains partition mesh files and does not request LAZ point export. These options are under Project settings → Post process.

6. Make one controlled change

For a simple comparison, select card 01 and change its thickness parameter from 0.2 to 0.3. Give the export a second filename, generate, and load that result. Keep all other settings unchanged so that the comparison is meaningful. Return to 0.2 to restore the supplied setting.

The later blending steps also affect the shape, so this is not a uniform thickness change throughout the bracket. Use full-detail viewing and, where appropriate, the measurement tools to inspect the actual generated mesh.

For the next steps, see Build and edit workflows and Inspect models in the 3D Workspace.