HexCell Growth Support

            Quick Help: Most questions can be answered below! If you need additional assistance, scroll down to the contact section.
        

Getting Started

HexCell Growth is an interactive grain growth simulation that demonstrates how crystal structures evolve in materials science. Here's how to use the app:

Start/Pause

Tap the green "Start" button to begin the simulation. The button changes to red "Pause" when running.

Add Nuclei

Tap anywhere on the black simulation area to add new crystal nucleation sites that will grow.

Adjust Settings

Use the sliders to control "Dynamics" (growth rate) and "Nuclei" (number of starting grains).

View Statistics

Tap "Stats" to see live data including cell count, filled percentage, and dynamics value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is grain growth simulation?

A: Grain growth is a process in materials science where crystal grains in metals and other materials compete for space and merge over time. This simulation shows how hexagonal grains evolve according to scientific principles used in metallurgy research.

Q: Why does the app ask for photo library access?

A: Photo library access is only requested when you tap the "Save" button to save simulation screenshots. The app never reads your existing photos - it only adds new images when you choose to save them.

Q: The simulation seems slow or laggy. What can I do?

A: Try reducing the "Nuclei" count using the slider, or lower the "Dynamics" setting. The simulation is computationally intensive, especially on older devices.

Q: How do I clear the simulation and start over?

A: Tap the orange "Clear" button to reset the simulation to a blank state, then tap "Start" to begin a new simulation.

Q: Can I control the colors of the grains?

A: The colors are automatically generated based on scientific algorithms. Each grain gets a unique color to help distinguish between different crystal regions.

Q: Is this educationally accurate?

A: Yes! The simulation uses cellular automata algorithms based on real materials science principles. It's suitable for educational use in materials science, metallurgy, and crystallography courses.

Troubleshooting

App Performance Issues

Slow simulation: Reduce nuclei count and dynamics settings
App crashes: Try restarting the app and using lower settings
UI not responsive: Clear the simulation and restart

Photo Saving Issues

Permission Denied: Go to iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos > HexCell Growth and enable access.

Recommended Setting: Choose "Add Photos Only" for optimal privacy when prompted for photo access.

Common Solutions

Restart the app: Close and reopen HexCell Growth
Restart your device: A device restart can resolve memory issues
Update iOS: Ensure your device is running a recent iOS version
Free up storage: The app needs memory to run complex simulations

Educational Resources

To learn more about grain growth and materials science:

Materials Science Textbooks: Look for chapters on "microstructure evolution" and "grain growth"
Metallurgy Courses: This app complements university-level materials science education
Research Papers: Search for "cellular automata grain growth" for advanced reading
Wikipedia: "Grain growth" and "Crystallography" articles provide good background

Privacy & Data

HexCell Growth is designed with privacy in mind:

No personal data collection
No internet connection required
No user tracking or analytics
Photo access only for saving your images

Read our full Privacy Policy for complete details.

System Requirements

iOS Version: iOS 15.6 or later
Device: iPhone or iPad
Storage: Minimal space required
Performance: Better performance on newer devices

Contact Support

Still need help? We're here to assist you:

Email Support

Email: blisssoft16@gmail.com

Please include your device model and iOS version when reporting issues.

App Store Reviews

For general feedback or feature requests, please leave a review on the App Store. We read every review and use feedback to improve the app.

Response Time

We typically respond to support emails within 24-48 hours. For urgent issues, please include "URGENT" in your subject line.

Version Information

Current Version: 1.0.0

Last Updated: July 2, 2025

Thank you for using HexCell Growth! We hope this app helps you explore and understand the fascinating world of materials science and crystal formation.