Advanced CAD for AM

Surface modeling is a CAD technique focused on designing complex, curved surfaces. Unlike solid modeling, which deals with volumetric shapes, surface modeling is about crafting intricate and smooth surfaces, a necessity in many AM applications for their ability to create intricate designs.

Surface Modeling Key concepts:

• Control Points and Splines: These are the basic building blocks of surface models. Control points are used to define the shape of a spline, which is a smooth curve. The arrangement of these points determines the curvature of the surface.

• NURBS: Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) are mathematical representations of 3D geometry that can accurately describe any shape from a simple 2D line, circle, arc, or curve to the most complex 3D organic free-form surface or solid.

Freeform modeling/sculpting is about creating shapes that are more organic, less constrained by straight lines and perfect curves. In AM, this allows for the design of ergonomic and complex shapes that would be difficult or impossible to manufacture traditionally.

Freeform modeling/sculpting