AMTT

Video: How Biomimetic Design boosts 3D printing

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Design engineers worldwide push themselves hard to get the most out of 3D printing technology, also known as additive manufacturing, and to produce highly complex and efficient components demanded by various industries. But, without the right experience and software, many fail.

Insiders know it all comes down to efficiently optimising the designs of existing and new three-dimensional objects before printing. Generally, the new design should enable lightweight objects and save on materials while maintaining or even improving functionality and performance of the final products, which is not an easy task.

German experts of the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Additive Production Technologies (IAPT) in Hamburg have proven that biomimicking nature’s construction designs by what is called ‘biomimetic design’ can do the trick most efficiently. The expert scientists of their 'Additive Manufacturing Technology Transfer (AMTT)' research project have developed a software that exposes 3D designs to the harsh selective forces of nature’s evolution, but in a matter of hours instead of thousands of years.

The results are promising and might support design engineers around the world to optimise their designs efficiently.

Free online courses are offered frequently. Want to learn more? Get in touch!

Fraunhofer IAPT

Jochen Loock
E-Mail: Jochen.Loock@iapt.fraunhofer.de
Web: https://www.iapt.fraunhofer.de/en/AMTT.html