The Basics

0.2.0 Get to know the User Interface

This brief tour of the nTop Platform User Interface explains how to open a new file, edit system
settings, navigate the ribbon, and explores the layout of the program. New users should review the
Getting Started tutorial. See Introduction to the Ramp Block for more information on ramping.

0.3.0 Blocks & The Notebook

In this video, you will learn what the Notebook is, how blocks function, their anatomy, and how to
move, add and delete them from your workflow.

0.3.1 Understanding Block Properties

Watch the video below to learn about blocks, the property section, and possible errors that can pop
up when building the Notebook.

0.3.2 How to use the Field Viewer

0.4.1 How to Export

This article will teach you the basic methods for exporting your part out of nTopology. If you are
looking to see what types of export are supported, check out this article. There are two main
methods for exporting a part out of nTopology.

0.4.2 How to Export to STEP or Parasolid

nTop Platform is capable of exporting Implicit or Mesh parts to STEP or Parasolid formats. This
ability enables you to integrate nTop Platform’s robust geometry kernel into CAD workflows.
Topology optimization workflows produce the most useful results, but the same process applies to
more complex geometry. Keep in mind that exceedingly faceted geometry and periodic structures
are challenging for traditional CAD programs.

1.1.0 Basics: Lightweighting with Toolkits

This video will teach you the basics of nTop Platform while building on what we learned in the
previous User Interface and Block introduction videos. We will be creating a workflow to
lightweight an imported part. Topics covered are file set-up, importing, conversion, shell and fill,
and boolean operations. If you are new to the program this video will help you get up and running
with nTop!

1.2.0 Basics: Lightweighting with Blocks

This video will build on what was covered in 1.1.0 Basics: Lightweighting with Toolkits. It will cover
the same workflow using only blocks and not toolkits. It will teach you how the blocks work
together, options for volume latticing, and using boolean operations.

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1.3.0 Basics: Create a Custom Block for Lightweighting
This video will take the workflow created in 1.2.0 Basics: Lightweighting with Blocks and turn it
into a Custom Block.

Custom Blocks package up entire workflows to be used in new instances of nTop Platform. This
allows you to easily and quickly repeat processes that can take multiple steps. Follow along with the
video below to see how to make a Custom Block.

Users' Guide to Topology Optimization

Topology optimization is an effective way of creating parts using less material. This guide explores
nTop Platform’s topology optimization capabilities, including a detailed workflow using the
functional blocks, tips, and a step-by-step example.

Some Walk-throughs
Meshing Techniques Walk-through
This tutorial will take you step-by-step through an example from our Documentation. In this
example, we’ll learn about several techniques for meshing our native geometry type (nTop Body)
for export.

TPMS Infill Walk-through

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through an example from our Documentation. In this
example, we’ll learn how to fill a volume with a Tripley Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS), also
known as a periodic lattice.

Structural Ribbing Walk-through

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through an example from our Documentation. In this
example, we’ll learn how to apply a Lattice that conforms to a CAD Surface to create Structural
Ribbing.

List Processing Walk-through

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through an example from our Documentation. In this
example, we’ll learn about List Processing, which gives users the ability to batch automate
workflows.

Modify Geometry with Ramps Walk-through

This tutorial will take you step-by-step through an example from our Documentation. In this
example, we’ll learn how to variably modify the properties of geometry using distance data and our
Ramp block.

Introduction to the Lattice Workflow

How to Export an STL

This article explains how to export STL, OBJ, 3mf, or PLY formats.

How to Create a Knurl Texture

Follow these steps to learn how to create a knurled texture on CAD surfaces using a Conformal
Lattice from CAD Face.

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How to Create Variable Lattice Thickness using Simplex Noise
This article explains how to create a variable lattice thickness driven by 3D Simplex Noise in a
Ramp. This technique is useful for creating Stochastic foam.

How to Blend TPMS types Together

This article will teach you how to smoothly blend two different types of TPMS Gyroids together
utilizing the Mix and the Ramp block. Blending the TPMS (Triply Periodic Minimal Surface) lattices
will create a smooth transition from one type of TPMS to another.

Topology Optimization Walk-through

In this example, we will learn how to perform Topology Optimization in nTopology. Topology
Optimization (Top Opt) is a numerical design operation that determines the optimal shape of a part
based on a set of objectives and constraints. TopOpt allows the user to design geometries that best
achieve the desired objective while considering complex and multivariate design constraints.

This workflow and attached file demonstrate how to use Top Opt to design a lightweight bracket
with minimal structural compliance. The workflow includes the setup of an FE model with
boundary conditions, the definition of Top Opt constraints and objectives, and post-processing of
Top Opt results to create a final part design.

Useful Information
Automated Build Preparation for Metal Additive Manufacturing with nTop
When designing for metal Additive Manufacturing technologies such as metal powder bed fusion,
part orientation plays a very important role because it determines the location and amount of
support structures required to complete the build. File used: CB - Optimal Build Orientation

Application Tutorial
Create a Shoe Sole with Field-Driven Design
This tutorial will take you step-by-step through how to drive density in a shoe sole based on a foot
pressure jet map. Topics Covered: Field from Point Map, Ramps, Lattices, Variable Density

nTopEd Slack
Here is an invitation to the slack group. This is an ideal place for the education community to share
ideas, ask questions, find answers, post notebooks, and announce talks, presentations, articles, etc.
Please join the slack group (made possible through a partnership with RIT):
https://ntopology.education/join_slack

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Whitepaper
nTopology Modeling Technology
by George Allen, nTop Fellow

Blogs
Lightweighting with Cellular Materials: Insights from Nature
by Professor Dhruv Bhate
Can cellular materials serve as a design solution for achieving lightweighting of engineering
structures? Let’s listen to what nature has to say.