Integrated Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing

Topology optimization has been considered as a promising tool for conceptual design due to its capability of generating innovative design candidates without depending on the designer’s intuition and experience. In this work, practical algorithms and a MATLAB-based open source framework are developed to seamlessly integrate the level-set-based topology optimization procedure with additive manufacturing process by converting the design to STL (STereoLithography) files, which is the de facto standard format for 3D printing. The proposed algorithms and code are mainly developed for level-set based optimization methods and the input is expected to be a matrix Φ of a 2D or 3D design, but it can also be used with density-based optimization results. The proposed work is evaluated by a proof-of-concept demonstration with 3D printing of both single and multi-material topology optimization results. The open source framework will be beneficial to the areas of computational design and additive manufacturing, and is available for download, in both, Matlab GUI and code.

Open source framework

Integrated Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing for 3D Microgripper example

Integrated Topology Optimization and Additive Manufacturing for Multi-Material Designs

Useful tools:

→ STL generator

→ Scale

→ Resolution

→ Thickening 2D designs

→ Flipping

→ Symmetry

→ Periodicity

→ Orientation

Download options:

phi2stl GUI for user friendly interface

phi2stl code for  easy integration with existing optimization codes

Representative publications:

Journal:

Panagiotis Vogiatzis, Shikui Chen and Chi Zhou, “An Open Source Framework for Integrated Additive Manufacturing and Level-Set Based Topology Optimization”, Journal of Computing and Information Science in Engineering, 17.4 (2017): 041012.

Conference:

Panagiotis Vogiatzis, Shikui Chen and Chi Zhou, “A Matlab Code for Integrated  Additive Manufacturing and Level-Set Based Topology Optimization”, ASME Proceedings of IDETC/CIE, August 21-24, 2016, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Demonstration

Demonstration