Advances in 3D Printing Research Based on Topology Optimization

Topology optimization is an advanced structural design approach in the field of industrial engineering that optimizes the form of material distribution while maintaining structural strength.3D printing is an advanced manufacturing technology that creates objects layer-by-layer by dividing a three-dimensional object into two-dimensional planes and stacking them on top of each other. In 3D printing, topology optimization can achieve lightweighting, and improve structural strength and performance, while reducing printing time and cost, providing a whole new range of possibilities for 3D printing manufacturing. At present, the industrial manufacturing industry is increasingly adopting 3D printing technology to fabricate complex objects that cannot be achieved by traditional manufacturing methods, whose flexibility and degree of freedom bridge the gap between topology-optimized and actual fabricated structures. This paper reviews recent research on 3D printing methods based on topology optimization techniques, discusses the basic manufacturing requirements and limitations of 3D printing considering topology optimization, briefly reviews practical applications of 3D printing techniques based on topology optimization in the field of industrial design, and explores the limitations of the existing applied methods and the possibilities of future work. It has far-reaching implications for the combination of topology optimization and 3D printing techniques and their application in different industrial fields.