Altair Case Studies Optimising 3D Printed Stool Design with solidThinking Inspire: A Case Study on Assa Ashuach Studio

	Optimising 3D Printed Stool Design with solidThinking Inspire: A Case Study on Assa Ashuach Studio Altair

Optimising 3D Printed Stool Design with solidThinking Inspire: A Case Study on Assa Ashuach Studio

Altair

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Sensors - Lidar & Lazer Scanners
Applicable Industries	Electronics Life Sciences
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Additive Manufacturing Time Sensitive Networking
Challenge	Assa Ashuach Studio, a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy, was faced with the challenge of designing a stool that was both light and economical. The stool needed to be customised to support a weight of 120 kg. The challenge was to determine how much material could be removed from the design space while still supporting this weight and achieving a unique design. The design and manufacturing process had to be efficient, reducing material waste and cost, without compromising on the quality of the product. The studio was also interested in exploring new design and production methods to achieve unique forms and aesthetic qualities. Read More
About Customer	Assa Ashuach Studio is a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy that designs and manufactures lifestyle products and limited edition studio pieces. The studio employs a network of highly skilled specialists from the design, science, and manufacturing sectors, using dedicated 3D software development, electronics, and engineering as an integrated part of its design methodologies and philosophy. The studio is led by Director Assa Ashuach, who is always looking for innovative ways to design and manufacture products that are unique in form and aesthetic quality. Read More
Solution	The solution came in the form of Altair's solidThinking Inspire, a software that uses industry-leading OptiStruct technology to enable product designers to generate and investigate structurally efficient concepts quickly and easily. The software allows designers to import their design, create the design space, and then define materials and loading conditions. From this point, the ideal material layout is generated which can then be controlled to achieve the desired result of the final design. In this project, Inspire removed any redundant material according to stress zones on the object surface. An optimisation of the exterior and material use was made to achieve a light and economical form. The stool was produced by laser sintering, which allowed for a faster production time and energy savings by reducing the laser millage and distance to the final object layer. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Sensors - Lidar & Lazer Scanners

Applicable Industries

Electronics

Life Sciences

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Additive Manufacturing

Time Sensitive Networking

Challenge

Assa Ashuach Studio, a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy, was faced with the challenge of designing a stool that was both light and economical. The stool needed to be customised to support a weight of 120 kg. The challenge was to determine how much material could be removed from the design space while still supporting this weight and achieving a unique design. The design and manufacturing process had to be efficient, reducing material waste and cost, without compromising on the quality of the product. The studio was also interested in exploring new design and production methods to achieve unique forms and aesthetic qualities.

About Customer

Assa Ashuach Studio is a London-based industrial research and product design consultancy that designs and manufactures lifestyle products and limited edition studio pieces. The studio employs a network of highly skilled specialists from the design, science, and manufacturing sectors, using dedicated 3D software development, electronics, and engineering as an integrated part of its design methodologies and philosophy. The studio is led by Director Assa Ashuach, who is always looking for innovative ways to design and manufacture products that are unique in form and aesthetic quality.

Solution

The solution came in the form of Altair's solidThinking Inspire, a software that uses industry-leading OptiStruct technology to enable product designers to generate and investigate structurally efficient concepts quickly and easily. The software allows designers to import their design, create the design space, and then define materials and loading conditions. From this point, the ideal material layout is generated which can then be controlled to achieve the desired result of the final design. In this project, Inspire removed any redundant material according to stress zones on the object surface. An optimisation of the exterior and material use was made to achieve a light and economical form. The stool was produced by laser sintering, which allowed for a faster production time and energy savings by reducing the laser millage and distance to the final object layer.

Impact #1	The use of solidThinking Inspire in the design process of the stool resulted in a product where aesthetics met performance. The final concept of the stool was reanalysed using OptiStruct, simulating a 120 kg distributed load on the seating area. The analysis results confirmed the structural integrity of the stool. The stool was made of Nylon 12, a material commonly used for plastic additive layer manufacturing. The Femur Stool was showcased as part of 'The Future is Here' exhibition at London Design Museum and also at 'The Language of Process' exhibition in the Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections Gallery. It is also on display at London Science Museum for the duration of 2014.

Impact #1

The use of solidThinking Inspire in the design process of the stool resulted in a product where aesthetics met performance. The final concept of the stool was reanalysed using OptiStruct, simulating a 120 kg distributed load on the seating area. The analysis results confirmed the structural integrity of the stool. The stool was made of Nylon 12, a material commonly used for plastic additive layer manufacturing. The Femur Stool was showcased as part of 'The Future is Here' exhibition at London Design Museum and also at 'The Language of Process' exhibition in the Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections Gallery. It is also on display at London Science Museum for the duration of 2014.

Benefit #1	Faster production time due to the use of laser sintering
Benefit #2	Energy savings achieved by reducing the laser millage and distance to the final object layer
Benefit #3	Material savings due to the removal of redundant material according to stress zones on the object surface

Benefit #1

Faster production time due to the use of laser sintering

Benefit #2

Energy savings achieved by reducing the laser millage and distance to the final object layer

Benefit #3

Material savings due to the removal of redundant material according to stress zones on the object surface

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Overview

Optimising 3D Printed Stool Design with solidThinking Inspire: A Case Study on Assa Ashuach Studio

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit