This article describes the process of topology
optimisation (TO) of three components of an electric scooter, namely the
neck, platform, and suspension bracket. We use these example parts to
investigate the additive manufacturing (AM) workflow, from re-design to
nesting and support approach that has an impact on the total costs and
time required for product development and manufacturing, with a focus on
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology. Due to the
mathematically generated shape, components that are topology optimised
and fabricated through AM have improved structural load-to-weight ratio.
The article elaborates on the cost of manufacturing these new
geometrical structures and re-designing existing components. Recognising
topology-optimised design features for the LPBF manufacturing process
like creating touch points between parts in 3D nesting orientations and
lattice structure integration reduces cost in volume production. Our
study shows that it is beneficial for the DMLS process to perform finite
element analysis (FEA) and optimise components using TO and lattice
structures, as weight reduction also translates to cheaper fabricating
parts. Defining and implementing a streamlined workflow for editing the
complex automatically generated support structures improves
manufacturability. Such approaches encourage companies to adopt wider
LPBF processes in mainstream industries.