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The next generation of generative design tools will unlock the true potential of additive manufacturing and investment casting. The key? Optimizing the most labor-intensive steps in the digital workflow – from design to manufacturing.
Generative design uses computational algorithms, artificial intelligence and machine learning to rapidly explore nearly infinite design options for any given product – bringing new automation to computer-aided design (CAD).
Unlike traditional design tools, which rely on humans drafting of a concrete end product, with generative design designers input parameters only – purpose, size, materials, strength, weight, manufacturing method, cost constraints, and more. The generative design software then applies computational algorithms, which generate design, some by simulating physics, some by mimics nature’s evolutionary approach to design, exploring all possible solution permutations and offering thousands of design options. Designers select outcomes that best meet their needs, and another iteration of generative design further refines the product to meet the end goal.
How disruptive are generative design solutions? By way of example, air giant Airbus used the technology to rethink a simple but significant component of its A320 aircraft– the partition that separates the passenger compartment from the galley.
The partition needed to meet strict weight, stress, and displacement parameters. To meet these design requirements, the Airbus team directed their generative design software to examine two unique natural growth patterns: slime mold and mammal bones.
The resulting latticed design is optimized for strength, yet 45% lighter than the existing component. This lightweighting will enable a huge reduction in jet fuel consumption – the equivalent of removing 96,000 passenger cars off the road for a year.
ParaMatters is the next generation of generative design – delivering an advanced and fully autonomous yet intuitive generative design and simulation platform. While other generative design solutions offer suggestions to users and require manual geometry interpretation, ParaMatters’ products automates the most labor-intensive steps in the digital workflow – from design to manufacturing.
The newest version of the company’s flagship CogniCAD product (version 2.1) enables rapidCAD file import and user-friendly definition and loading of design criteria.Generative designs are available within just minutes, are verified by built-inFinite-Element Analysis, and can be directly produced using additive manufacturing.
The designs generated by CogniCAD are smooth and watertight STL models ready for AdditiveManufacturing or STEP files that are compliant with all CAD systems. The latest CogniCAD release offers an expanded range of loading conditions including thermal loads and force/moments via remote points, as well as acceleration(g-forces) and pressure. CogniCAD comes with broader design for additive manufacturing and investment casting with functional design capabilities including stress, compliance (stiffness) and deformation constraints.
By minimizing unsupported areas and supports volume, the newest CogniCAD version generates optimal design and model orientation for Additive Manufacturing while highlighting areas which require reinforcement. Importantly, CogniCAD 2.1allows users to select the desired combination between resolution and speed of computation with the introduction of its 2X computational speedup.
Generative design is so incredibly disruptive because it fundamentally alters the traditional design process. It transforms CAD from an electronic drawing board into a co-designer – enabling faster optimizing, morphing and lightweighting. This lowers costs and raises both salability and efficiency, while lowering energy consumption.
The newest version of CogniCAD takes generative design to the next level – leveraging advanced topology optimization techniques, computational geometry, elastic computing power in the cloud, and artificial intelligence.This next generation of generative design empowers engineers and designers to fully unlock the potential of additive manufacturing and investment casting.