Driving Innovation In Product Design: Integrating Additive Manufacturing And Topology Optimization Techniques

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, revolutionizes the production of complex geometries by layering materials incrementally. Advances in AM technologies eliminate the need for extensive process planning and the use of traditional manufacturing tooling. AM opens up new horizons for product designers, allowing them to freely design complicated geometries without the constraints of manufacturability. As the design space for the shape of the product is expanded more freely, a systematic approach and design methodology are needed to assist the designer in selecting or designing the optimal shape of the product suitable for additive manufacturing technology. Thus, this paper introduces an innovative design approach using topology optimization. This approach assists the product designers in creating optimal product structures that minimize material usage while ensuring the desired mechanical properties.