12/21/2023

Tailored Manufacturing through Custom 3D Printing Structures

4D_Additive has released an update with a new lattice structure module that enables the customized production of lightweight components.

The new 4D_Additive software version 1.5 from the German-French software developer CoreTechnologie features a completely revamped lattice structure module. With the new functionalities, complex geometries for additive manufacturing of mechanical lightweight parts and consumer goods are quickly, easily, and custom-made. For example, shoes and bicycle saddles are tailored to individual customer needs. This new software version takes 3D printing in the custom-made sector to the next level.

Optimal Geometry Creation

The new lattice structure functions in the software allow additively manufactured components to be created with additional properties, such as progressive damping, highly efficient heat exchange, lightweight construction, or integrated functions of an assembly within a single part. The cell size and lattice thickness of the structures can be adapted to the load profile through a color graphic, so that areas with higher stress are created with denser structures. The Nastran interface of the software allows seamless data transfer to CAE calculation systems to validate the geometries generated in seconds.

Structural Lightweight Design

With 22 different lattice types, both internal and external lattices are generated based on the original 3D/CAD models. Individual surface areas or parts of the component volume are quickly and easily replaced with lightweight, high-strength structures, such as gyroid or stochastic Voronoi, and the CAD model is optimized for its specific application.

Perforation Patterns

The simple generation of perforation patterns is made possible with new Boolean functions. Thousands of holes of any size are automatically created so that they are normal to the surface of the CAD model. A notable application of the technology is additively manufactured molds for vacuum thermoforming or catalysts.

Functions for generating lattice structures of varying densities, made using additive processes, will change the way products are developed and redefine product performance.