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Optimising 3D Printed Stool Design with solidThinking Inspire: A Case Study on Assa Ashuach Studio
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Sensors - Lidar & Lazer Scanners
Applicable Industries
- Electronics
- Life Sciences
Applicable Functions
- Product Research & Development
Use Cases
- Additive Manufacturing
- Time Sensitive Networking
The Challenge
Assa Ashuach Studio, a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy, was faced with the challenge of designing a stool that was both light and economical. The stool needed to be customised to support a weight of 120 kg. The challenge was to determine how much material could be removed from the design space while still supporting this weight and achieving a unique design. The design and manufacturing process had to be efficient, reducing material waste and cost, without compromising on the quality of the product. The studio was also interested in exploring new design and production methods to achieve unique forms and aesthetic qualities.
About The Customer
Assa Ashuach Studio is a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy that designs and manufactures lifestyle products and limited edition studio pieces. The studio employs a network of highly skilled specialists from the design, science, and manufacturing sectors, using dedicated 3D software development, electronics, and engineering as an integrated part of its design methodologies and philosophy. The studio is led by Director Assa Ashuach, who is always looking for innovative ways to design and manufacture products that are unique in form and aesthetic quality.
The Solution
The solution came in the form of Altair's solidThinking Inspire, a software that uses industry-leading OptiStruct technology to enable product designers to generate and investigate structurally efficient concepts quickly and easily. The software allows designers to import their design, create the design space, and then define materials and loading conditions. From this point, the ideal material layout is generated which can then be controlled to achieve the desired result of the final design. In this project, Inspire removed any redundant material according to stress zones on the object surface. An optimisation of the exterior and material use was made to achieve a light and economical form. The stool was produced by laser sintering, which allowed for a faster production time and energy savings by reducing the laser millage and distance to the final object layer.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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