Proto Challenge

A challenge is an initiative of open innovation that in a short time allows companies (profit or non-profit), but also the public administration, to identify potential solutions to problems (technological, business, or design) and opportunities for innovation by doing leverage specialist skills that reside outside of the organization.

Topological optimization is a technique that allows to optimize the shape of a product or mechanical component starting from the 3D CAD of the product itself. Through this method it is possible to obtain innovative shapes of the components, which guarantee the desired performances in terms of static stiffness using the least amount of material possible and respecting the producibility constraints.

Additive manufacturing refers to the set of additive manufacturing processes starting from digital models. The process starts from a 3D CAD document: a subdivision in layers is carried out through a specialized software, the resulting diagram guides the printer in the deposition, or sintering, of the material. The additive manufacturing allows great freedom in the design of the piece, removing most of the design and processing constraints, with a view to rapid prototyping.