This code provides utilities for optimizing the shape of a plate bell based on its desired overtones using the CalcuLiX FEM library. It's far from polished, but I'm leaving it as is unless anybody takes a particular interest in it.

Besides the standard Python scientific libraries, this package requires the CalculiX FEM library, the packages in requirements.txt, and pyaudio if you want to preview the sounds of the bells.

Contains tools for drawing the outlines of the bells and writing them to .dxf format when ready to send to a waterjet cutter.

Uses scipy.fmin to find an optimal bell shape (basinopping is broken at the moment). The body of the code is one example of how to generate shapes - tweak it for your particular purpose.

When run, if stats sees a pickled file called vals.p in the working directory it'll show the development of the shape over time

Allows stats to play the sound of the bell at each iteration.

Use the contents of optimize.py as a jumping off point for your own projects. Default material properties are defined for 6061 aluminum, redefine them to suit your needs.

If desired, a Dockerfile is attached to make installing dependencies more straightforward. With Docker installed on your computer, build the image:

docker build -t bells .  

Once that's done, run the image. To run graphics, you'll need have a running X server on your host PC. On Windows I use vcxsrv with access control disabled, and set my DISPLAY variable to my IP address:

set DISPLAY=192.168.0.11:0.0

When you launch the container, be sure to export your DISPLAY variable

docker run -it -e DISPLAY bells

Get multi-layer parts to actually work (combine solids in cgx) testing