While 3D printing has moved from mainly prototyping to production over the last decade, we still use mostly the same design software & methods from the early 80s. CAD’s foundation is the BREP (boundary representation) that, when created, was ideal for digitizing drafting. CAD successfully replaced the drafting board for drawing, but what’s next? Rather than incrementally improving upon CAD, a totally new underlying model is needed, breaking boundaries between analysis & design, to handle the ever increasing complexity of modern manufacturing.
Implicit modelling + Field-Driven-Design is built for the future of product development and already today is enabling a wide range of products from autonomous, swarming factory robots to zero-energy hydrogen-powered aircraft to custom orthodontics. Engineering is about breaking boundaries and exploring the art of what’s possible, and new software is the tool to enable us.