S5E39 Bradley Rothenberg | nTopology (nTop) & Computational Design

Being an Engineer · 27 Sept 2024 · 46m · Episode 39

What this episode covers

Bradley Rothenberg, founder and CEO of nTopology (now branded nTop), explains how their computational design software captures engineering requirements in algorithms rather than traditional geometry definitions. He details the use of implicit modeling technology, specifically sign distance fields, to create lightweight, parametric models that integrate tightly with simulation tools like ANSYS and LS-DYNA. Rothenberg highlights applications in additive manufacturing, such as complex heat exchangers for Siemens Energy, and discusses how nTop fits into the digital thread alongside legacy CAD systems like SolidWorks and CATIA.

Mentioned

Companies
nTopology, Siemens Energy, Intact Solutions, Cloud Fluid, Ocado
Products
nTop
Tools
SolidWorks, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, Autodesk Fusion, Materialize Magics, CATIA, NX, Creo, Star CCM+, Fluent

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Additive Snack · 1h 00m

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

    Brad Rothenberg, CEO and founder of nTop (formerly nTopology), discusses the evolution of his company from a tool for additive manufacturing component design to a platform for implicit modeling and system-level engineering. He explains how nTop’s parametric approach helps aerospace companies like Siemens Energy explore design trade spaces to reduce risk in conservative industries, particularly in thermal management and heat exchanger design. Rothenberg also details nTop’s recent integration of AI and its native fluid solver, nTop Fluids, to accelerate physics simulations and lower the barrier to entry for engineers transitioning from traditional CAD.

  • Additive Snack · 35m

    Unlocking Higher Performance 3D Printing Applications with Brad Rothenberg

    Brad Rothenberg, founder and CEO of nTopology, discusses how advanced engineering software unlocks the full potential of additive manufacturing by shifting the engineer's role from manual 'grunt work' to creative problem-solving. He explains that traditional CAD tools are ill-suited for 3D printing's complexity and advocates for 'unlearning' conventional manufacturing constraints to leverage design freedom. Rothenberg highlights a specific Air Force satellite structure made from Inconel that is 50% lighter than its aluminum predecessor, demonstrating the power of topology optimization and thin-wall printing. He concludes by predicting a future where engineers use reusable, remixable workflows to accelerate innovation across industries.

  • Additive Snack · 41m

    Design for AM: CAD Tools, Simulation, Voxels & the Future of AM Design

    Dr. Andreas Vlahinos, a leading expert in additive manufacturing design, discusses the evolution of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) with host Fabian Alefeld at RAPID + TCT 2025. He highlights the shift from parametric CAD to simulation-driven design using implicit and voxel-based tools like PTC Creo and Entop, which enable real-time analysis within the CAD environment. Vlahinos illustrates these capabilities through high-impact projects, including custom medical implants for femur reconstruction and high-performance heat exchangers, emphasizing the critical need for collaboration between design and manufacturing teams to avoid failures like residual stress and cracking.

  • Product Startup · 19m

    182: Consumer Product Hardware Trends in Mid 2023

    Brian Thompson, head of Creo CAD software at PTC, discusses how modern hardware companies are integrating simulation, additive manufacturing, and model-based definition directly into the core CAD environment to accelerate time-to-market. He explains that staying within a single native CAD model, such as Creo, eliminates context switching and data errors, allowing startups and enterprises to iterate rapidly from concept to production. The conversation highlights specific capabilities like ANSYS solvers for structural analysis and Oxetic lattices for energy absorption, which enable designers to validate performance and manufacturability without leaving the design tool. Thompson emphasizes that this unified approach de-risks product development by allowing teams to test with real customer feedback on short-run additive prototypes before committing to expensive full-scale tooling.

  • Additive Snack · 55m

    Simulation as an Enabler: Pan Michaleris & Erik Denlinger on the Evolution of Additive FEA

    Pan Michaleris, founder of Pan Optimization, and Erik Denlinger, co-founder and chief engineer, discuss the evolution of finite element analysis (FEA) in additive manufacturing. They explain how PanX software predicts distortion, thermal stress, and material properties to replace costly trial-and-error builds, particularly for large aerospace components. The conversation covers the shift from expert-driven simulation to automated workflow integration with machines like EOS and Velosis, and the cautious role of AI surrogate models in qualification.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Being an Engineer. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.