How to Use a Topology Study for Generative Design in SOLIDWORKS

This SOLIDWORKS training article on how to use a topology study for generative design is by SolidProfessor. Updated September 2026.

A topology study is the fastest way to try generative design inside SOLIDWORKS. You give the software a block of material, the loads it has to carry, and where it is held, and it removes everything the part doesn’t need. This guide explains what generative design is, how a topology study works, and walks through a real example: a lightweight 3D printed bracket.

What Is Generative Design?

Generative design is an iterative design process in which software creates or edits a part’s geometry until it meets the requirements you set, such as strength, stiffness, weight, and manufacturing limits. The designer defines the goals and constraints, and the software explores shapes a person would rarely draw by hand. Parts made this way often have fluid, organic surfaces or webbed lattice structures.

3D printing is a big reason generative design has taken off. Traditional processes such as CNC milling struggle with complex, curved internal geometry, while additive manufacturing builds it layer by layer. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers can handle many generative shapes with support structures. Powder bed processes such as selective laser sintering (SLS) and multi jet fusion (MJF) go further, because the surrounding powder supports the part and no separate support material is needed.

Topology Optimization vs. Generative Design

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are slightly different. Topology optimization starts from one design space and removes material to find the most efficient layout for a set of loads. Generative design is the broader idea of software producing design options from goals and constraints, and some tools generate many alternative shapes at once. A SOLIDWORKS topology study is topology optimization, and it is a practical, low-cost entry point into generative design.

If you need the broader approach, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform from Dassault Systèmes offers dedicated generative design roles, and Autodesk Fusion includes a generative design extension. For many everyday parts, a topology study in SOLIDWORKS Simulation gets you most of the benefit.

What a SOLIDWORKS Topology Study Does

According to the SOLIDWORKS help documentation, a topology study performs nonparametric topology optimization of parts. It starts with a maximum design space, considers all applied loads, fixtures, and manufacturing constraints, and redistributes material within the boundaries of the allowed geometry. The result is a component that meets the mechanical and manufacturing requirements with less material.

Topology studies are part of SOLIDWORKS Simulation, so check that your license includes the Simulation package that supports them before you start.

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How to Set Up a Topology Study in SOLIDWORKS

1. Model the design space. Build a simple solid that represents the maximum volume the part is allowed to occupy.
2. Create the study. In the Simulation tab, choose New Study and select Topology Study.
3. Apply material, fixtures, and loads. Define where the part is held and the forces it must carry. Accurate fixtures matter more than anything else here.
4. Set goals and constraints. Choose a goal such as best stiffness to weight ratio, minimize maximum displacement, or minimize mass, and add constraints like a maximum displacement or a target mass reduction.
5. Add manufacturing controls. Preserve regions such as bolt holes and mounting faces, add symmetry, and set thickness or demold direction controls if the part will be machined or molded.
6. Run the study and review the result. Use the mesh slider to see how much material can be removed, then export a smoothed mesh to use as a reference or as an STL for 3D printing.

Example Project: Designing Table Extension Brackets with a Topology Study

In this project, the goal is to build brackets for a table extension. The extension adds a little more surface area to free up space and help support a 3D printer.

The original bracket is intentionally designed as a plain rectangular block (the green blocks in the image above). Instead of spending time designing a unique bracket shape and then testing its strength, SOLIDWORKS Simulation runs a topology study that creates a bracket strong enough to carry the load with as little material as possible.

The bracket blocks measure five by five inches and three by five inches. These dimensions set the design space the topology study is allowed to work within.

The table extension only needs to support about 10 pounds, but to stay on the safe side each bracket is designed to support 20 pounds. The topology study removes all of the unnecessary bracket material and keeps only what is required to hold that weight.

The end result looks very different from the original block. It uses a fraction of the plastic filament, prints much faster, and saves design and testing time because SOLIDWORKS produced the geometry.

Two settings made the biggest difference in this study: using the correct Fixtures and Manufacturing Controls, and specifying the plane of symmetry. Without symmetry, the results can come out lopsided and strange. After the topology study was complete, the design was exported as an STL file for 3D printing.

Tips for Better Topology Study Results

• Start with a generous design space. The study can only remove material, so give it room to find a good shape.
• Protect functional faces. Mark bolt holes, mating faces, and contact areas as preserved regions so they survive the optimization.
• Treat the result as a starting point. The smoothed mesh is a guide. Many engineers rebuild a clean, parametric version of the shape before final validation.
• Validate afterward. Run a standard static study on the final geometry to confirm stress and displacement before printing or manufacturing.

If you want to set up this project step by step and create your own generative design, watch the full tutorial on SolidProfessor.

Video Tutorial: Using a Topology Study for Generative Design

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SOLIDWORKS have generative design?

Yes. SOLIDWORKS Simulation includes the Topology Study, which optimizes a part’s shape based on loads, fixtures, goals, and manufacturing controls. More advanced generative design tools are available on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Can I 3D print a topology study result?

Yes. Export the smoothed mesh as an STL file and slice it like any other 3D print. Organic shapes from topology studies are often well suited to 3D printing.

What is the difference between a topology study and a static study?

A static study analyzes an existing design to see how it performs under load. A topology study changes the design by removing material to meet a goal, such as the best stiffness to weight ratio.

More SOLIDWORKS learning: browse our CAD and 3D printing tutorials, or if you are working toward certification, see the SOLIDWORKS Certification Guide.