For your business, it’s important that you’re making full use of any technology that’s available, whether it’s for the benefit of your product development to marketing your business. Every piece of software you install or use online is going to provide a helping hand for your employees and to ensure your company succeeds in everything it does.
Topology has helped revolutionize the way businesses design and develop products. It’s a methodology that has assisted many industries with engineering and manufacturing. It’s why there’s a growing number of software out there to help with topology optimization.
How do you choose the right one for your business? With so many out there, it can be challenging to figure out which one is best suited for your organization. In this guide, we’re going to take a look at what features you should look out for when it comes to topology optimization software and tips for selecting the right one.
We’ll also share some of the best topology optimization software that’s worth exploring for your business if you’ve not yet implemented it.
What is topology optimization software?
Topology optimization software is used to improve structural performance and generate lightweight alternatives to dense designs. Today, topology optimization is mainly used in aerospace and automotive applications to reduce the weight of advanced engineering products and improve their performance and efficiency.
Five tips for selecting the right software
What should you be looking for when it comes to topology optimization software? There are a number of factors to consider when shopping for the software so that you pick the right one for your business needs, rather than just what’s recommended or considered popular. Here are five tips for selecting the right topology optimization software.
Explore the volume of features available with this software
Features are an important part of any software that you consider investing in. With topology optimization, what features should be part and parcel of this type of software?
A system that can help map out wireless networks is beneficial, as well as the ability to integrate other applications where necessary. Automated device discovery can also be helpful when it comes to topology optimization software.
The more that’s available, the better. You want a design software that’s going to help create the best, lightweight but high-performance products that your customers will want.
Consider the scope of your operations.
Not all topology optimization software is going to be beneficial to your business. Why? Well, some are built for larger-scale operations, whereas some are more suited for smaller businesses or those operating at a much smaller scale.
There are some topology optimization software options that are going to be better for your business, so it’s worth questioning whether you need to be paying through the nose or not.
Look for software that offers free demos.
One of the best signs of a software that’s worth the investment is one that offers free demos. By offering a free demo, they’re going to be confident that their product works and therefore don’t need to charge or tie you into anything financially before using the product properly.
Look at the software options available and if they offer free demos, then take full advantage of those demos. There will be some that offer a free trial or a money-back guarantee, which are two beneficial offers to utilize as this software doesn’t tend to be cheap on the wallet!
At least with a free trial, you can try out everything before investing and with money-back guarantees, you can tap out if the software isn’t what you expected.
The level of technology available.
Another important factor to consider is what type of technology is incorporated with this software. Some have some cutting-edge technology, whilst others might have something more basic to offer when it comes to topology. You want business tools that are going to be adaptable to the growth of technology.
If the software itself is already using futuristic technologies and actively looking to enhance and upgrade its technology for users, then this is always a good sign of a software that’s going to grow with your business. The last thing you want is a software or tool that’s going to hold you back from your potential as a company.
Does it offer value for money?
Similar to the scope of features that the software offers, it’s important to understand whether or not this software is providing enough value in comparison to how much you’re paying. The software should be feature-rich and be something that can be utilized by multiple users.
Some may charge a one-off subscription for full use across multiple users, whilst others might charge a monthly fee per person, per month. It’s worthwhile to gather intel on other software and compare the prices in terms of the cost to your business and the ROI you can calculate from this expenditure.
The benefits of topology optimization
Topology optimization software is a great way of helping your product development towards the end of the design stage.
Topology as a methodology has been used in various industries such as the aerospace industry and automotive industry, making vehicles in both that are unlike anything we’ve seen before. Here are a few benefits of topology optimization software and using it for your business operations.
Saves your business money
Being able to save your business money is like music to any organization’s ears. With the use of topology, the reduction in material usage and having to create numerous prototypes can certainly reduce the expenses on each project you do as a business.
Even though the initial investment might be costly, it’s one that will certainly give back to your business and make back that investment in no time at all.
Solves design challenges and pinch points
With any product or part being made, there are a variety of design challenges and pinch points that might occur. That’s why it’s beneficial to use topology because it helps explore the options within the confines of any parameters you set in the process.
These pinch points can typically cause delays to your production line and delays mean extra costs for your business.
Reduces the impact on the environment
A big advantage of topology is that the technology being used can save a lot of wastage. The software helps to create high-quality products and parts that still retain everything it needs to perform at their best but without overusing materials.
This reduction in waste is majorly influential on the environment – in a positive way! With less waste, your business not only benefits from the knowledge that it’s helping the environment but it’s a big green tick from local environmentalists. This can all help towards creating a glowing reputation and respect that may do well when it comes to comparisons to your competition.
Choosing the best topology optimization software
Now that you know what to look for, what topology optimization software is out there? Here are a few options to get you started as you explore the world of topology and use it within your design teams.
nTopology
nTopology is considered one of the leading software within this market. They create complex geometrics through generative design but also often topology optimization as part of their many product services.
The technology is great for optimization in manufacturing and helping to achieve weight reduction without comprising the structure’s performance. It then runs various tests to assess the performance of the part or product so that it is the best it can be.
There’s no direct price on-site as a quote is given based on your business needs.
Tosca
Tosca is a topology optimization tool that is based on FEA and CFD simulations. It uses topology to quicken the pace of development so that a business can get a product to the market faster.
The software supports both ready-to-manufacture product design and simulation-driven design development to suit a variety of company needs. Again, you’ll need to contact the business directly for pricing.
Creo
Creo is a CAD solution that helps design, optimize and validate any products or part models that you create before they head to the printing stage.
There are a number of versions available, depending on the features you require from the software. From 3D CAD, CAM and CAE, it brings any business design ideas to life in just a few clicks of a button.
The price of the software varies due to the packages available. However, the most basic starts at $2,550. You can opt for a free trial before committing to the software fully.
Utilize the advancements of topology optimization software
For any business across many of the industries that use design tools for their product development and various projects, topology is a great technology to utilize this year.
