TRIZ for Additive Manufacturing: Inventive problem-solving through intermediate object.

With the growing popularity of additive manufacturing (AM), designers now need relevant design methodologies to take full advantage of this technology [1]. TRIZ is composed of problemsolving tools designed to bring innovative and creative solutions and this paper focus on Design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) assisted by this one. The TRIZ matrix provides designers with general innovative design solutions to enhance the specific characteristics of a design without sacrificing the effectiveness of other features. However, the use of TRIZ remains difficult to use for novice design teams and the interpretation of inventive principles can engender frustration in creativity. Indeed, this method requires a capacity of abstraction of the problem in general contradictions which requires an important work of the mind. Based on the work in AM, DFAM, creativity and TRIZ this paper demonstrates the relevance of physical support in the implementation of the method by focusing on the stage of abstraction for DFAM problem solving. This article proposes a state of the art showing the impact of rapid manufacturing on the design as well as the relevance of a methodology using intermediate object for creativity in additive manufacturing and a reflexion about their integration in a TRIZ adapted for AM.