Achieving Complex Geometries in 3D Printing

Aug. 31, 2023
The only provider of a cloud- and API-based 3D engineering platform looks to advance the mass adoption of industrial 3D printing, with sustainability at the forefront of its mission.

Dr. Elissa Ross, co-founder and CEO of Metafold, the developer of a Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) cloud-based software, recently sat down with Sharon Spielman, technical editor of Machine Design. They discussed Metafold’s beginnings, the technology behind its computation engine, its impact on key markets and its commitment to sustainability.

In this first of a three-part series, Ross offers an overview of the company’s beginning, its software and how to access it. Co-founder Daniel Hambleton is a mathematician who serves as the company’s CTO. Co-founder Tom Reslinski is an architect and Metafold’s COO. Together, the three of them leveraged the expertise of mathematicians and professionals in architecture, engineering and construction to launch Metafold, with a mission to provide digital infrastructure for 3D printing.

READ MORE: Shaping Sustainability in 3D Printing

“[CAD systems] were developed for conventional manufacturing, and they are excellent in those capacities,” she says. “But when it comes to supporting high complexity, geometry—that is…what 3D printing is really great at—those same digital tools are traditional CAD tools. They don’t offer what we need.” This new technology addresses that, she says.

At the center of Metafold’s platform is its geometry computation engine, which Ross says enables the design and optimization of complex geometries for 3D printing. The web application offers capabilities for creating lattice geometries, lightweight parts and high-surface area structures, she explains, and this opens possibilities for a range of industries where optimized structures are highly valuable. 

Ross notes that one of the key strengths is the material and process agnosticism. Users can access the software via the cloud and API, regardless of the hardware used for 3D printing. This flexibility allows manufacturers to optimize their additive manufacturing processes, whether designing lightweight aerospace parts or creating efficient heat exchangers.

Also in This Series

About the Author

Sharon Spielman | Technical Editor, Machine Design

As Machine Design’s technical editor, Sharon Spielman produces content for the brand’s focus audience—design and multidisciplinary engineers. Her beat includes 3D printing/CAD; mechanical and motion systems, with an emphasis on pneumatics and linear motion; automation; robotics; and CNC machining.

Spielman has more than three decades of experience as a writer and editor for a range of B2B brands, including those that cover machine design; electrical design and manufacturing; interconnection technology; food and beverage manufacturing; process heating and cooling; finishing; and package converting.

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: @sharonspielman

X: @MachineDesign

Facebook: Machine Design

YouTube: @MachineDesign-EBM

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