A generative-based design methodology to enable the democratisation of 3D printing

Mark Goudswaard*, Aydin Nassehi, Ben Hicks

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

Abstract

3D printing technologies, such as material extrusion (MEX), hold the potential to revolutionise manufacturing by providing individuals without traditional manufacturing capabilities with powerful and affordable resources. However, widespread adoption is impeded by the lack of user-friendly design tools due to the necessity of domain-specific expertise in computer-aided design (CAD) software and the overwhelming level of design freedom afforded by the MEX process. To overcome these barriers and facilitate the democratisation of design (DoD), this article introduces an innovative, generative-based design (GBD) methodology aimed at enabling non-technical users to create functional components independently. The novelty of this methodology lies in its capacity to simplify complex design tasks, making them more accessible to non-designers. The proposed methodology was tested in the design of a load-bearing part, yielding a functional component within two design iterations. A comparative analysis with the conventional CAD-based process revealed that the GBD methodology enables the DoD, reflected in a 68% reduction in design activities and a decrease in design difficulty of 62% in requisite know-how and a 55% in understanding. Through the creation and implementation of this methodology, the article demonstrates a pioneering integration of state-of-the-art techniques of generative design with design repositories enabling effective co-design with non-designers.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere21
JournalDesign Science
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Aug 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The work reported in this article has been undertaken as part of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded projects Brokering Additive Manufacturing (BAM) and ProtoTwinning (grant references EP/V05113X/1 and EP/R032696/1, respectively) and conducted at the University of Bristol in the Design and Manufacturing Futures Lab. 1

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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