Description
What’s the difference between topology optimization and generative design—and why does it matter when building advanced components? In this hands-on lab, we’ll explore the tools and workflows that helped Elara Aerospace design a launch-ready, record-breaking rocket built to survive the extreme forces of spaceflight. You’ll follow guided exercises in Autodesk Fusion software, learning how to harness both generative design and topology optimization to reduce mass, increase strength, and improve overall performance under tight constraints. We’ll walk through how to define loads, constraints, and materials. We’ll cover how to interpret and compare outcomes. And we’ll explore post-process geometry for manufacturability. You’ll gain practical experience in setting up a generative design study, comparing it with topology optimization, and understanding when and why each approach is appropriate. By the end, you’ll understand the theory—and have built and optimized a component for spaceflight-level performance.
Key Learnings
- Learn about the fundamental differences between topology optimization and generative design—and when to use each approach.
- Learn how to set up and run generative design studies in Autodesk Fusion with real-world engineering constraints and goals.
- Learn how to interpret and compare optimization results based on performance, weight, and manufacturability.
- Learn lessons from rocket engine component design to apply to your own high-performance engineering challenges.