Carbon, a leading 3-D printing technology company, is launching the next generation of its Carbon Design Engine software and making the software licenses available to design teams globally for purchase in early 2022.

This software allows product designers to generate advanced latticed parts quickly and easily from a solid part STL file and output STL files for printing on most common 3-D printers. Previously, this software was available only to Carbon platform customers, but beginning in early 2022 software licenses will be available for individuals and teams to design, develop, and print advanced lattices on most common 3-D printers.

The company said: “With broad accessibility to Carbon’s lattice-generating design software, design engineers and industrial designers can automate the process of creating conformal, multi-zone lattices, thereby dramatically accelerating the product development process.

Design Engine has been widely used by global brands to design high-performance breakthrough products, including bike saddles, helmets and sporting gloves.” Specialized Bicycles used Carbon Design Engine to ‘reimagine’ the bike saddle.

Emma Boutcher, Specialized Bicycles product manager, said: “We have invested heavily in research and innovation, with the goal of improving riders’ experience on the bike. Our collaboration using Carbon’s Design Engine software and 3-D printing process enabled us to develop a saddle with different damping characteristics, something impossible with traditional foam, leading to superior comfort. We wanted to push the limits and our partnership with Carbon allowed us to do just that.”

Carbon says its idea-to-production platform enables creators to develop better products in less time. It is comprised of a wide range of materials, a suite of software to design products and define production processes, and high-speed 3-D printers.

Within Carbon’s software suite, Design Engine automates complex product design and development from prototyping to production. Innovative products designed with Design Engine have successfully moved from design to production in months and then been produced at scale.

Phil DeSimone, Carbon’s chief product and business development officer, said: “Creators are challenged with fragmented solutions and organisational silos that have caused friction, limitations on innovation, and delayed time to market.

“To successfully bring better products to market in less time, organisations need a platform that unifies product design, development, and manufacturing. Carbon’s software suite, starting with Design Engine, aims to cover every step needed for companies to create products with superior performance while accelerating the time to market.”