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Table of Contents:
Apps for Topology Optimization
Full Cad Apps with Topology Optimization
Other lists of topology optimization software
Definition :
Topology optimization (TO) is a mathematical method that optimizes material layout within a given design space, for a given set of loads, boundary conditions and constraints with the goal of maximizing the performance of the system.
Available Tools:
Source Code + Smaller Apps
TopOpt
http://www.topopt.mek.dtu.dk/apps-and-software
Simple 3D interactive app, MATLAB code, Plugin for Rhino+ grasshopper, and Large scale parallel TopOpt based on PETSc.[b]
TopoStruct
http://sawapan.eu/sections/section79_topostruct/download.html
Aimed at designers, unclear if it supports exporting
ToPy
https://github.com/williamhunter/topy
Python, probably CPU bound
Top3D
Requires MATLAB, supports STL output
PolyTop
https://paulino.ce.gatech.edu/software.html
Requires MATLAB, there’s also PolyTop++ but there’s no source code currently available https://www.swmath.org/software/17735
Apps for Topology Optimization
Altair Inspire
https://solidthinking.com/product/inspire/
Pros: There’s a trial [c]+ student version
Cons: Unclear pricing structure?
Frustum Generate
https://www.frustum.com/generate
Pros: free trial[d] but free accounts can't download result meshes, easy to use
Cons: 100$ a month, cloud only
Full Cad Apps with Topology Optimization
Fusion 360 Generative Design:
https://youtu.be/a_o-rYb8wyo?t=1279
Pros: produces NURBS geometry, easy to use, fairly cool looking results
Cons: Cloud compute only and costs 60$ a month + 25$ a simulation + 100$ per part to download STL
Fusion 360 Shape Optimization:
Pros: easy to use, free for students,
Cons: Cloud compute only and costs 5$ a simulation for non students,
Solidworks
Cons: 3-7k $
Siemens NX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XFNT6GSxz8
https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/products/simcenter/femap.html
Cons: 7K+$
Other lists of topology optimization software
http://www.topology-opt.com/software-list/
Might be something else interesting here, some broken links and raw research
[a]Wow, I never would have guessed this software is still so expensive. Thanks to the OP. -@h_thoreson from twitter
[b]Note to self - try this
[c]Note to self - try this
[d]Note to self - try this