“There’s a great deal of design flexibility in using 3D-printed materials. You might be able to achieve similar results by making multiple parts and welding or bolting them together, or by using complex carbon-fiber tools. But that requires a lot of engineering time, and often more manufacturing time as well.”

“We’ve definitely come to the conclusion that, in the laboratory anyway, our new lattice-cylinder design is a better mousetrap than our fin cylinder—which is a big deal. We now know we’re in the ballpark in terms of lattice density. From here on out it’s a matter of using nTop Platform …