Computational Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM): empowering design capabilities in AM
Co-chairs: Carolyn C. Seepersad, Serena Graziosi
Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies have the potential to unlock unparalleled manufacturing and design freedoms, but design capabilities must be expanded and empowered to successfully exploit those opportunities. AM technologies enable fabrication of complex multi-functional, highly integrated, customised, multi-material and free-form physical objects. However, is the design engineer’s mindset prepared for tackling this multidisciplinary and complex design challenge? This workshop will explore the role of computational thinking and ideation in building such a mindset and in the development of next-generation Design for AM tools that facilitate mastering such a multifaceted mix of design capabilities. Indeed, design engineers are increasingly capable of rapidly and effectively exploring alternatives, through advanced parametric and generative strategies, optimisation approaches, and modelling/simulations tools, but it is challenging to apply these tools in such a way that they empower design, rather than limit it. This workshop will provide the opportunity to explore the potentials of computational thinking and ideation and computational tools in mastering design complexities and stimulating design engineers to develop more responsible solutions. To this aim, the workshop will start by presenting the state-of-the art in the field of computational design and ideation with a focus on the link to fabrication via AM. Then the audience will be challenged with a design problem and guided, by workshop facilitators, in generating solutions, taking into account Design for AM heuristics and their background knowledge in AM; after the ideation phase, they will be asked to explain the logical thinking intuitively followed to conceptualise these solutions. Are current design tools able to adequately support them in this reasoning? If not, could such logical thinking be translated into design tools able to help them explore further design alternatives? These questions will be used to stimulate an open discussion moderated by workshop facilitators who collect and eventually share with participants any suggestions and practical implications for the development of the next generation of Design for AM tools. This workshop is offered not only to 3D printing experts but also to anyone interested in exploring the possibility to combine creativity, intuition, and logical reasoning when designing to develop value-added solutions for AM.
Monday, August 5, 2019
The 22nd International Conference on Engineering Design, 5 - 8 August 2019 Delft, The Netherlands