Confluence of parametric design and digital fabrication restructuring manufacturing industries: A unified design space from design to manufacturing

The positive consumer reception of 3D printed products suggests that the coupling of digital fabrication technology and parametric design methodologies presents opportunities and challenges to traditional modes of industrial manufacturing. This paper outlines the manner in which parametrically defined constraints of components within design hysteresis can be implemented to maintain conformation to real world constraints. The study challenged ten architectural designers to develop parametric definitions using conventional CAD software and visual programming languages to describe the geometric logic of a simple pendant lamp while permitting some consumer defined shape parameters. The assessment of submitted design descriptions suggests that defining such a system parametrically for manufacturing requires the development of an approach that is capable of not only intelligently managing interdisciplinary dependencies but also evaluating performance factors within implicit design space. During the next phase of this research, focus will be on the application of the proposed constrained design hysteresis methodology in collaboration with a major manufacturing industry partner to further develop and explore its potential in real world implementation. If proven effective, it can be expected that adoption of the combination of parametric design tools and digital fabrication among major manufacturing industries will be pervasive in the coming years.