TOffeeAM: an intelligent design solution for additive manufacturing

When it comes to creating parts via additive manufacturing, the design of the 3D model is crucial: modelling methods will directly impact the final result, i.e. the appearance of the part, its quality, its resistance, but also the success rate, the quantity of material used, etc. Design techniques are different for AM than for traditional manufacturing processes. So how can you be sure you are using the right methods? What steps do you have to go through? This is where design solutions for additive manufacturing come into play, as they specialise in the creation of complex shapes that are compatible with various 3D printing technologies. This is the case of TOffeeAM, a young British startup that has developed its intelligent design solution for additive manufacturing, based on generative design. We met with the team behind the platform to learn more about the importance of design in 3D printing and the main features of their offering.

3DN: Can you present yourself and your relationship with additive manufacturing?

TOffeeAM optimises product designs for Additive Manufacturing (AM) – also known as 3D printing – and was founded in 2019 at Imperial College London by Dr Francesco Montomoli (CEO), Dr Marco Pietropaoli (COO), and Dr Audrey Gaymann (CTO). The company started from the Department of Aeronautics of Imperial College, where we are developing software for Additive Manufacturing with several industrial partners. Francesco is a Reader at Imperial College of London. Marco and Audrey obtained their PhD at Imperial College of London in Design for Additive Manufacturing. Marco is a former EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow, now studying for an MBA. Audrey is an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow, obtaining the Amelia Earhart Fellowship for her studies in Aviation.

The TOffeeAM team

3DN: Why did you decided to create TOffeeAM?

About 6 years ago we received a question from a leading manufacturer: with Additive Manufacturing you can print almost everything, what we are going to design and how? When there is a new manufacturing technology, usually people tend to use old design methods with the new manufacturing process. There are several examples of this gap: the first Iron Bridge looked exactly as old wooden bridges; it took few centuries to fully exploit the potential of metal solutions as shown in the Millennium Bridge in London.