The problem
Between an idea and a finished part, there’s a gauntlet: CAD modeling, CAM programming, post-processing, simulation. Each step requires different skills, different tools, different licenses. Most small shops can’t afford the software, let alone the engineer.
Even with the right tools, the process is manual and slow. Changes mean re-drawing, re-programming, re-proving. The feedback loop from “this didn’t cut right” to “here’s the corrected toolpath” takes hours or days.
Generative design tools exist but they’re disconnected from manufacturing reality. They optimize geometry without knowing what machine will cut it or what material from.