How Software and the Cloud are Revolutionizing 3D PrintingGrant Thomas-Lepore@GrantTLDirector of Software Products, GrabCAD

AgendaSoftware innovations driving the 3D printing revolution

WHERE WE ARE1.Current innovations + trends

WHERE WE’RE GOING2.Where do current trends lead?3.What new innovations will be crucial?

Current innovations + trends1

How software + cloud has driven 3D printing forward so far

1) Easy to access 3D content

2) Design challenges

3) Mass customization

Easy-to-access 3D content

How this software drives 3D printing• Opens the door to more than just CAD

engineers• Engineers can focus on designing new parts,

not designing parts that already exist

Easy-to-access 3D content has been a major driver of the 3D printing revolution

3D printing design challengesLocal Motors Car Design Challenge

Results• 206 entries• Winner was the Strati, prints in 44 hours:

3D printing design challengesGE Jet Engine Bracket Challenge

Results• 640 entries• Winning result lowered bracket weight an

unprecedented 84% while meeting stiffness and strength requirements

How this software drives 3D printing• Fresh ideas and inspiration• Unprecedented results• Publicity for engineers, companies, and 3D

printing in general• Motivates engineers to learn how to design

for 3D printing

Design challenges have been a minor driver of the 3D printing

revolution

Mass customization:Normal Earphones

Mass customization:iTotal knee replacement

How this software drives 3D printing• Enables new business models• More options for consumers, better

performance• Generates a LOT of buzz• Difficult to separate hype from reality

Mass customization has been a minor driver of 3D printing revolution

…to date

2Where do current trends lead?

Easy-to-access content

Easy-to-access content will continue to be a major driver of 3D printing

3D printing design challenges• Increasing number of sites offer them:

Design challenges will continue to be a minor driver of 3D printing

Mass customization• Scanners will get

smaller and cheaper

• Software to create + modify scan geometry will improve and move to the cloud

Mass customization will become a major driver of the 3D printing revolution

Mass customization3D print your next family portrait?

#3dselfie

3Crucial new innovations

Future innovations

1) Shared office printers

2) Analysis apps3) Generative

design

Shared office printers

How this software drives 3D printing• Shared office printers are the natural in-

office 3D printing solution for high-quality 3D printers

• Barriers: – Need software that doesn’t require

training– Need software that automatically

optimizes print schedule and printer etiquette to get everyone’s parts printed

Shared office printers will be a major driver of the 3D printing

Analysis apps

How this software drives 3D printing• Analysis apps provide more certainty of AM

part performance, enabling usage as actual production parts in more applications

• Barriers: – Mechanical properties of 3D printed parts

vary one machine to next, one print to next

– Lack of material property data

Analysis apps will be a major driver of 3D printing

Generative design: Topology optimization

James Novak

Generative design: Lattice generation

How this software drives 3D printing• Ideal generated designs can often only be

manufactured with AM• Unparalleled part performance• Barriers:

– Software still early stage, generally only provides “concept” models that then need to be made in CAD

– Requires good Analysis apps for 3D printed structures to deliver accurate results

Generative design will be a major driver of 3D printing in the long

term

ConclusionHardware innovations have driven much of the explosion of 3D printing, while some key software developments have contributed greatly:

1. Easy-to-access 3D content2. Design challenges3. Mass customization

ConclusionThe future holds many more software innovations that will continue to drive the 3D printing/AM revolution forward:

1. Shared office printers2. Analysis apps3. Generative design:

• Topology optimization• Lattice structures