General Lattice Unveils GL Frontier: Simplifying 3D Printing for the Masses

In an industry where innovation often walks hand in hand with complexity, General Lattice is charting a different course. Founded six years ago, the company has steadily evolved from its beginnings as a service bureau into a leader in digital manufacturing services, focusing on computational design. Now, General Lattice is making headlines with its latest offering: GL Frontier, a web-based software that promises to make 3D printing accessible to a broader audience.

“GL Frontier is really the culmination of everything we’ve learned over the past five years,” said Nick Florek, CEO of General Lattice, in a recent interview. “We’ve worked with a wide range of companies, from the Department of Defense to sporting goods manufacturers, and we’ve taken those experiences to create a tool that anyone can use.”

General Lattice’s journey began with a focus on LP technology, but the company soon pivoted away from printing parts for customers, instead turning its attention to designing them. This shift allowed the team to develop a deep understanding of various industries and their unique needs. It also provided the foundation for GL Frontier, which distills the complexities of 3D printing into three key components: materials intelligence, intuitive design tools, and connected manufacturing.

The materials intelligence feature of GL Frontier is perhaps its most significant innovation. It provides users with a database of lattice materials, helping them choose the right material for their projects, whether they’re focusing on mass customization, part consolidation, or advanced geometry. “We’ve tried to break down the keys to success with 3D printing,” Florek explained. “And materials intelligence is a big part of that. Our database allows users to find the right hardware, the right material, and the best lattice structure to use.”

The software’s design tools are also notable for their simplicity. General Lattice has intentionally avoided the steep learning curve that often accompanies powerful design software, opting instead for a point-and-click interface that even those new to 3D printing can quickly grasp. This user-friendly approach is a deliberate attempt to make the benefits of 3D printing more accessible to a broader range of professionals. “We want to enable customers to leverage 3D printing without having to become computational designers,” said Florek.

GL Frontier doesn’t stop at design; it also offers a connected manufacturing component that helps users find the right suppliers for their projects. Whether a company needs a prototype, a low-volume production run, or is ready to scale up to full production, GL Frontier provides sourcing solutions to match. “We’re trying to remove barriers and make the entire process, from design to production, as seamless as possible,” Florek added.

The impact of GL Frontier has already been felt in various industries. Florek recounted a success story involving a company in the hip protection industry. By using GL Frontier, the company was able to transition from traditional foam materials to 3D-printed foam, reducing the prototype development time from months to just a single day. “It’s all about speed and velocity,” Florek emphasized. “Companies need to move quickly to validate and build the use case for 3D printing.”

The software made its debut at RAPID 2024 in Los Angeles, where it received a warm reception. Attendees appreciated the simplicity of the design workflow and the fact that it is a web-based platform, eliminating the need for high-performance hardware to run complex computations. “We wanted to create an accessible solution that doesn’t require a steep investment in either time or money,” Florek noted.

Looking ahead, General Lattice plans to expand the capabilities of GL Frontier. The company is working on broadening the range of materials in the database to include rigid polymers, composites, and metals, thus opening up new possibilities for industries beyond those it currently serves. Additionally, they are developing new design features and production tools to enhance the software’s utility.

Despite its technological advancements, General Lattice remains committed to supporting its users. The company is dedicated to helping customers integrate GL Frontier into their existing workflows, augmenting rather than replacing their current tools. “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Florek said. “We want to pick up where traditional CAD leaves off and provide a set of tools that meets the specific needs of 3D printing.”

As General Lattice continues to innovate, its CEO finds balance in the outdoors. Whether hiking, biking, or kayaking, Florek cherishes his time outside, particularly now that he has a young son to share it with. This connection to nature seems to fuel his passion for creating tools that bring simplicity and efficiency to complex processes—just like the stilts he mastered as a child, Florek’s innovations at General Lattice help his clients stand tall.

With GL Frontier, General Lattice is not just making 3D printing more accessible; it’s setting a new standard for what the industry can achieve.

For more information about General Lattice and a free trial of GL Frontier, visit their website at www.generallattice.com.

Tags: 3D Printer

Categories: General Lattice, Video Interview

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