Recognizing the market demand for next-generation 3D design, an innovative software start-up resolved to complement its existing software platform with an enhanced Windows-based application to meet its customers' emerging needs.
With proven in-depth expertise from a 20-year track record in developing 3D modeling applications, AMC Bridge was selected for the task of creating the industry's first interactive generative design software for Windows from scratch.
-
Customer Benefits
- The expertise, initiative, and flexibility of the AMC Bridge team significantly reduced the time needed to create the brand new, market-ready 3D modeling application.
- The resulting application was adopted by several customers in the aerospace, engineering, and defense industries.
-
Project highlights
- Close collaboration to design, develop, test, and deliver a highly specialized 3D modeling application, meeting specific project goals on schedule and budget.
- Exceeded the expected functionality and performance of the new desktop application.
-
Why AMC Bridge?
- In-depth technical expertise in developing 3D modeling applications for desktop, cloud, and mobile platforms.
- Proven, trusted track record in developing user-facing engineering applications from start to finish.
Client
The client specialized in providing a software platform with an advanced set of design and topology optimization tools. With it, designers and engineers could design, create, and test parts and structures to optimize material utilization and performance under pre-determined conditions and scenarios before manufacturing.
Challenges
Determined to redefine and optimize the component design process, the client developed a cloud application based on a computational kernel for generative design.
However, with the increasing demand for generative design, the initial functionality and performance of the developed cloud application could not fully satisfy current users or potential customers.
Recognizing the impact of customer satisfaction on their business, the company focused on enhancing the performance and functionality of the application. Based on this, they decided to move to a desktop computing environment and offer the generative design software on Windows OS. To accomplish this goal, they turned to AMC Bridge, a partner of choice for engineering software development services in the areas of CAD, CAM, CAE, PDM, BIM, and PLM solutions.
Solution
AMC Bridge was commissioned to develop a brand-new customer-facing product based on the existing computational kernel.
The resulting desktop application was built on the client's generative design engine. It couples advanced topology optimization and simulation algorithms with real-time interaction and streamlines the modeling of high-performing, ready-to-manufacture mechanical parts.
The application developed by the AMC Bridge team includes the following major modules:
- A 3D viewer to provide 3D viewing functionality with measurement capabilities
- A data exchange module for transferring data with import and export capabilities
- A document component that is a proxy data model built on the existing computational kernel
- An automation component via a Python interface to the computational engine
- A user interface (UI) component
Blending generative geometry and traditional surface-based CAD with engineering precision, the new application includes the following features:
- Import of native CAD files
- Single- and multi-body optimizations
- Multiple loads and constraints
- Real-time FEA
- Standard and user-defined material library
- Interactive design changes
- Windows 64-bit multi-threaded architecture
- STL export with user-defined resolution
- Optional GPU computation with NVIDIA
Project Collaboration
To accomplish the main objective of the project, AMC Bridge assigned a team of software developers and quality assurance engineers. The team developed the new application from scratch and performed full manual testing.
At the preliminary Discovery phase, AMC Bridge collaborated with the client on-site and online to collect the requirements, specify the technology stack and project infrastructure, and estimate costs.
During the Implementation phase, the AMC Bridge team held regular status meetings with the client three times per week.
The Delivery phase included two releases and full manual testing of the application.
The AMC Bridge team demonstrated excellent software development skills as well as flexibility, sensitivity, and initiative also to solve the client's related business challenges:
- To create the UI, the AMC Bridge team suggested using the Qt Widgets library instead of QML, which helped complete the task faster and cut UI development costs.
-
Though it was not a part of the initial requirements, AMC Bridge suggested creating a Python API to help:
- Speed up application development by enabling autonomous testing of the computational kernel.
- Enhance performance by running sequential computations with different input arguments with minimal user intervention.
With comprehensive experience in developing 3D modeling systems, AMC Bridge delivered the desktop application that addressed the client's needs and requirements. The final product also contained features that were not planned initially but significantly enhanced customer experience.
Results
The resulting innovative application gives unlimited design possibilities and reduces the costs of component manufacturing. It has become a transformative addition to the client's portfolio, elevating them to a leading position in the world of design and simulation.
In her feedback, the client's Product Management Vice President emphasized the outstanding work of the AMC Bridge team building out the product. "The AMC Bridge team has done an exceptional job," she concluded.
All third-party trademarks belong to their respective owners. For more details, please refer to the Third-Party Trademarks list on the Privacy and legal notices page.
