Find The Sweetspots In Industrial Design Automation
Interview with trinckle CEO, Florian Reichle
Most of the focus in both additive manufacturing and computational design is often placed on high-performance, exotic parts such as topology-optimized aerospace brackets, complex heat exchangers, and medical implants.
While these shiny objects make marketable case studies, there is a substantial need—and greater potential for applications—in automating the ‘boring and repetitive’ tasks to create relatively inexpensive manufacturing aids that can significantly enhance the efficiency of other manufacturing processes.
This automation allows engineers to focus on solving engineering challenges rather than on repetitive tasks such as frequent mouse clicking and cursing CAD programs.
It is not uncommon for manufacturing processes to be delayed while waiting for a tooling engineer to design a manufacturing aid in CAD, for process engineers who may lack the skills or access to a CAD license.
trinckle has been addressing the issue of automating jigs and fixtures with Fixturemate, and with custom solutions based on their Paramate automation software and trCAD kernel for over a decade.
Co-founder and CEO Florian Reichle has taken the time to answer some questions about their software ahead of his presentations at CDFAM in Berlin.
Could you start by introducing us to trinckle, what prompted you to start it and why your team focuses on automating workflows for non-CAD users?
trinckle started as a university spin-off. We were all in on 3D printing, we were printing parts ourselves, but it didn’t take long to see the bigger challenge was in design.
It’s like, if we really want to take additive manufacturing to the next level, we’ve got to make design accessible to everyone, not just the CAD experts, think about for example people on the production floor or all the doctors and dentists. That’s why we’re here: to break down those barriers and make sure such people can jump in and design that they need and print and use.
I am particularly impressed by your development approach driven by industry engagement. Could you explain how these partnerships influence the development and functionality of your solutions, especially in the creation or modification of products such as jigs, fixtures, medical devices, prosthetics, and orthotics?
Oh, absolutely, by developing our products hand in hand with future customers we make sure, that our products really solve the huge pains in these industries.
It’s fascinating—you dive into these worlds, like medical or manufacturing, and you learn so much. For example, working with healthcare professionals showed us that 100% automation is not what they want. They still want to have the possibility to apply their medical knowledge and make design adaptions in certain steps manually, without having studied CAD-Construction.
And let’s not overlook the human element—our team thrives on this diversity. Each project brings its own set of challenges, sparking curiosity within our team. It’s this unique blend of learning and doing that keeps us on our toes. Beyond just product development, these experiences enrich our team’s understanding and appreciation for the intricacies of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry. It’s more than just collaboration; it’s a continuous loop of learning, innovating, and improving.
Given trinckle’s emphasis on serving non-CAD experts, can you describe how Paramate simplifies the design and manufacturing process for them?
With our software platform Paramate we can easily automate design processes often ending up in apps/configurators, which can be used by absolute design novices.
Thanks to our algorithm driven design platform we can hide all complexity and design restrictions in the back and can therefore guarantee super-fast, simple and reliable design outcomes.
Imagine taking all the repetitive, brain-numbing parts of CAD design and just… automating them. That’s Paramate for you.
But the platform isn’t just about automation; it’s about intuitive guidance through every step of the design, ensuring the final product is fully functional, manufacturable and in many cases visually appealing.
We invest in user experience, with extensive research into design workflows meticulously translated into geometry algorithms. This ensures that Paramate is not only powerful but also incredibly user-friendly. So, whether you’re a seasoned CAD professional or someone exploring design software for the first time, Paramate offers a welcoming environment to design.
How do you ensure that users without extensive 3D modeling backgrounds can easily create or modify their products while maintaining the results within the parameters of functionality and manufacturability?
Let’s talk about making things user-friendly.
Therefore, we created our platform Paramate. It inherits different modules, which are well orchestrated and thought through to automate everything that is not based on intuition. The core module is trCAD. It is our own developed script driven CAD Kernel. Since we developed it ourselves, we can continuously add unique CAD-Functions like special morphing algorithms that are e.q. relevant for creating anatomical medical devices. But also other modules like the load balancing module is important to guarantee a responsive and reliable result. With this powerful platform it is easy to create applications that can be used by unexperienced people as well as for fully automated solutions for application in industrial settings.
All the complexity is kept in the background. Combine that with an interface that’s all about simplicity, and suddenly, you’re designing without even realizing you’re designing. We’re constantly looking at how we can make the experience smoother, getting you from idea to design without any hiccups.
Could you share some success stories or case studies where trinckle’s solutions have enabled users with minimal CAD experience to achieve significant outcomes, particularly in the fields of manufacturing aids and medical applications?
At trinckle, we’re proud to share a series of remarkable success stories that span a diverse range of industries.
From automotive leaders like Ford and Audi, who have significantly reduced their design cycles, to the healthcare sector, where doctors are now able to design bespoke orthoses without the need for CAD expertise. Notably, companies such as Aqtor and Mecuris are leveraging our tools to bring personalized medical care.
Another inspiring example is from Deutsche Bahn, where the implementation of 3D printed Braille signs is making tangible differences in the real world. It’s all about empowering those who create, making the complex simple, and the impossible for those, possible.
And, oh, before I forget (because my marketing team won’t let me live it down if I do) – swing by our website’s use case section. It’s packed with inspiration and ideas.
How does trinckle’s software, particularly Paramate, integrate user-friendly interfaces and tools to facilitate the design process for non-CAD experts?
Paramate is designed with simplicity at its core.
From the moment you log into one of our applications, it’s as if the platform itself reassures you, “I’ve got your back.” Effortlessly, you’ll find yourself selecting and adjusting designs. Tailored to be an inviting playground for users of all skill levels, Paramate simplifies the design process.
Adjusting parameters or incorporating elements like clamps and labels becomes a straightforward, intuitive task, removing the complex learning curve typically found in conventional CAD software.
This user-friendly approach begins with an in-depth analysis of design workflows, which we then streamline into a step-by-step, easy-to-follow process.
How do you balance the complexity of design automation with the need for accessibility and ease of use?
Finding that sweet spot between powerful and accessible is key, which is why we’ve made Paramate cloud based.
This approach allows for seamless rollout, no matter the size of your team. Our software’s scalability ensures that as your company grows, its design processes can expand without requiring additional training or resources. This makes design automation accessible to a broader audience, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
At the core of our approach, we focus on simplifying the user interface. We keep all the complexity in the back, allowing users to interact with just the essentials on the front end. This means that the choices and actions you need to make are straightforward, minimizing your workload and decision fatigue. It’s our way of ensuring that our tools are as easy to use as possible, and in many cases, can even support full automation.
Beyond jigs and fixtures, trinckle has ventured into medical applications and other industries. How does Paramate adapt to the diverse needs of these sectors, and what role does collaboration with industry partners play in developing these tailored solutions?
When developing Paramate, we focused on the unique needs of various industries, such as medical and manufacturing, by crafting customizable solutions in close collaboration with our industry partners.
From the get-go, my team and I immerse ourselves in the industry, gathering insights and input from experts and researchers. This hands-on approach not only enriches our projects but also transforms us. By the time we wrap up, it feels like each of us has become somewhat of an expert in the industry we’ve been working with.
We’ve identified that, although the industries and their products vary greatly, their core functions are astonishingly similar or even the same.
For example, a robotic gripper has to adapt to the topology of a workpiece in a similar way an orthosis must conform to a patient’s arm. This realization has been enlightening. Now, we even benefit from the learnings and adaptations made for one industry, as we can often apply them to another. It’s this deep dive, collaboration, and cross-industry application that make Paramate such a versatile and invaluable asset across different fields.
Looking towards the future, what advancements in automation and workflow simplification are you most excited about? What are you exploring tackling next?
At trinckle, we’re thrilled when it comes to pushing the boundaries of automation and making workflow simplification even more impactful.
We’re genuinely excited to enable more and more AM-verticals scaling up and becoming successful. It’s great to realize both simple and very progressive applications and making them scalable. We’re simplifying processes even further by incorporating results from simulations, machine learning, sensor data, and of course, AI. This holistic approach is not just about innovation; it’s about making these advancements accessible and beneficial on a broad scale.
What indicators should a company look for to know when it’s time to reach out to Trinckle for exploring a customized automation workflow, and what should they be prepared to contribute in terms of design, data, and expertise?
Come to us if you need to customize large quantities of parts, if you want to automate repetitive design tasks, if the design needs to be done by non-CAD experts, and if you need to scale your business.
We’re here to help turn those ideas into real, tangible workflows, making sure you’re getting the most out of your resources. Everything you need is your imagination and a business concept.
How long does a typical engagement last before a company can enable their team or customers to begin producing parts?
The duration of working with us at trinckle differ based on what you need. With Fixturemate, our cloud-based tool, the impact is almost immediate. Typically, users can dive right in and start designing their first fixtures within just an hour, thanks to an intuitive self-guided tour. When it comes to custom projects, the timeline might stretch a bit longer, ranging from a couple of days up to some weeks.
Are the resulting designs always optimized for 3D printing, and if so, for which specific AM process? If not, for what other manufacturing processes do you optimize the design configuration process?
We are not limited to one 3D printing process. We are completely technology agnostic, as we consider the design limitations of each printer directly in the individual design parameters. Paramate’s flexibility also supports other manufacturing processes depending on customer needs.
Finally, what key message or insight do you hope attendees of the CDFAM Symposium take away regarding the potential of automation in design and manufacturing for computational designers, and non-CAD experts alike?
At the CDFAM Symposium, I want to leave you with this thought: automation in design and manufacturing opens up incredible opportunities, and those opportunities should not be empowering just computational designers but for anyone who hasn’t mastered CAD software.
It’s about making this field more accessible. To scale applications and make AM really big designing needs to become much easier, reliable and faster. If you also believe in this, we are looking for partnerships to accelerate this journey. Let’s embark on this transformative path together.
