Generative Design and 3D Printing to Develop a Hi-tech Cartesian Cutting Machine for Non-metallic Materials

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a Hi-tech Cartesian cutting machine for non-metallic materials in the laser converting field. The challenge stands in developing a better machine than the existing ones by speeding up the cutting process, allowing more formats of the material to cut and increasing versatility to better respond to different applications. Since extremely high accelerations, specific materials, sophisticated component shapes, critical mechanical properties, etc., are involved and required, state-of-the-art design tools, belonging to the collaborative design paradigm, come in real help to actors owning different competencies. Generative design allows defining the components of the core of the machine and 3D printing helps in evaluating the results in terms of dimensions, assembly, workspaces, etc. Other than starting to reach the expected result, this study highlights the added value of the design tools involved as well as some limitations and related expectations about possible upgrades of them in the future.