Additive Manufacturing: Mehr Designfreiheit, mehr Komplexität?

From intricate lattice structures and optimized cooling channels to functionally integrated components, additive manufacturing enables designs that would be difficult to achieve using conventional manufacturing methods.

However, increasing design freedom also means a growing number of design parameters. Cell sizes, wall thicknesses, material distribution and geometric structures must be carefully coordinated.

When Design Freedom Becomes a Challenge

One example is the development of additively manufactured cold plates. While conventional designs often rely on simple channel geometries, additive manufacturing enables complex internal structures such as Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS).

The challenge is to achieve optimal cooling performance while balancing other requirements, including pressure drop, uniform temperature distribution and manufacturability.

The Solution: Integrated Engineering Workflows

Efficiently exploring complex design spaces requires close integration between design and simulation.

Implicit modeling enables the parametric development of complex geometries. Combined with simulation-driven workflows, different design variants can be systematically analyzed, evaluated and optimized.

Automation and AI-assisted methods also offer future potential to accelerate development processes and support engineering decisions.

AM Engineering at cross-ING

The Competence Center AM-Design at cross-ING combines function-oriented design with simulation-driven development methods. Its expertise ranges from thermal management and fluid systems to structural optimization.

Our goal: Not simply to develop more complex geometries, but to create technically superior solutions.

Meet Us at Formnext 2026!

From November 17–20, 2026, cross-ING will be exhibiting at Formnext in Frankfurt.

Visit us in Hall 11.0, Booth C55, and discuss the opportunities and challenges of additive manufacturing with our experts.

We look forward to connecting with you!