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Generative design revolutionizes products and the way they’re made. Drawing on cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), generative design creates optimized models that are different than what standard engineering processes come up with. How exactly? Read on to learn the basics.

What is generative design?
Generative design is a technology in which 3D models are created and optimized by cloud computing and AI. A user sets up requirements for the model, such as manufacturing processes, loads, and constraints, and then the software offers designs that meet those requirements.

That doesn’t mean the designer is off the hook when it comes to engineering a product. The human in this scenario still needs to think about weight limits, physical constraints, availability of materials, and so on. In fact, the better the engineer defines these different criteria, the better the system can discover possible solutions. Generative design can add a lot of value to engineers’ work while taking significantly less time and reducing human bias. It produces multiple solutions simultaneously, all satisfying the given requirements, using the power of cloud computing.

Fortunately, especially for novices, the software can help them explore constraints, too. For example, you could set up a design for 3D printing and then try again with 3-axis milling. From there, you can decide which results best suit your budget, time schedule, etc., and set that as the optimal solution moving forward.