Implicit Design, AI & Next Gen Design Tools: Inside nTop’s Bold New Design Frontier

Additive Snack

In this episode of the Additive Snack Podcast, host Fabian Alefeld welcomes Brad Rothenberg, CEO and founder of nTop, formerly known as nTopology. They discuss the evolution of additive manufacturing and nTop’s role over the past three to four years. Topics include the founding story of nTop, the concept of implicit modeling, and how design tools have rapidly changed. Brad shares insights on using nTop for aviation design, thermal management, and heat exchanger design, pointing out the shift from traditional CAD to innovative parametric modeling for effective engineering solutions. They also explore the future impact of AI on engineering and how nTop is integrating AI to enhance design processes. The episode closes with a look at educational resources and training for engineers new to nTop.

1:37 The Founding Story of nTop

05:07 Implicit Modeling and Design Evolution

10:22 nTop's Impact on the Aviation Industry

19:32 Thermal Management and Heat Exchangers

31:05 Recreating Existing Models in nTop

2:16 Intern Projects: Building Gliders and Drones

33:44 Understanding Process Knowledge in 3D Printing

34:59 Custom Blocks and Design Rules in nTop

37:08 N Top's Role in Legacy and New Designs

38:17 Future Roadmap: Integration and Simulation

44:16 AI and Machine Learning in nTop

57:54 Lowering Barriers for Engineers