Is generative design changing additive manufacturing?

Generative design is an iterative design process that generates multiple design outputs that meet predefined constraints. This process is used in various fields such as art, architecture, and product design to produce outputs from sounds, images to CAD models. One of the main benefits of generative design is that it is a fast method for exploring design possibilities. For instance, this design technique allows many hundreds, if not thousands of possible solutions to be evaluated within a relatively short timeframe.

In the world of manufacturing, this design method has been used to optimize parts. The process of generative design starts within a software that can generate CAD-ready options based on real-world constraints and performance requirements. By defining these constraints and requirements, engineers can achieve light weighting, performance improvements, part consolidation, or sustainability for example. Therefore, generative design is changing the design process because engineers can solve challenges and come up with design solutions that they wouldn’t have been able to conceive on their own.

Engineers can achieve light weighting, performance improvements, part consolidation, or sustainability | Photo Credits: Autodesk

Today, there are multiple solutions on the market that target different sectors’ needs. Peter Rogers, APAC Additive Manufacturing Product Specialist at Autodesk explains the process of generative design for manufacturing in more detail: “It does not require a starting geometry. The users input the areas that the part must keep (the preserved regions), the areas that material should not enter (the keep out zones) and then the performance requirements (constrained areas, forces and pressures on the part, etc.). From there, you can input multiple materials that you have access to, and manufacturing criteria (such as minimum wall thickness and support angle criteria for additive, drill bit size for CNC, etc.). You put in some basic guidance in terms of objectives, and the tool will use Autodesk’s advanced design algorithms in parallel with the simulation technology to create validated, cost estimated, manufacturable geometry solutions to the defined design problem.”