At LEAP 71 we build complex technical objects using Computational Engineering Models (CEM). These models output parts, structures, and entire functional assemblies of machines, ready for production using advanced digital production technologies, such as industrial 3D Printing.
We use our technology to build anything from rocket engines to energy efficient heat exchangers and electric motors.
We are committed to supporting a growing open-source community around Computational Engineering, and are in the process of releasing many of our foundational technologies and computational models to the public.
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PicoGK ("peacock") is the open source foundation of all of our work at LEAP 71. Get started with PicoGK here. |
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Coding for engineers is an ongoing book project about learning how to code on PicoGK, which is released chapter by chapter by Lin Kayser. |
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Check out our GitHub Discussions, to talk about Computational Engineering, PicoGK, give feedback, ask questions, and see what others are doing, |
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Visit PicoGK.org for more resources. |
At the core of our work lies PicoGK ("peacock"), a compact and robust geometry kernel. We have released PicoGK under the permissive Free and Open Source (FOSS) Apache 2.0 license.
To get started with PicoGK, check out the documentation.
Computational Engineering benefits greatly from the free exchange of knowledge and algorithms. While much of LEAP 71's work is proprietary, we are constantly publishing foundational modules and examples as open-source.
At this time, the following repositories are available:
Use these libraries as submodules in your own Computational Engineering projects.
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PicoGK | The C#-based geometry foundation for all of our work at LEAP 71 |
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ShapeKernel | A generalized framework for creating computational geometry, based on PicoGK. |
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LatticeLibrary | An advanced library for creating complex lattice structures, based on ShapeKernel and PicoGK. |
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QuasiCrystals | A library to generate aperiodic tilings, such as Penrose Patterns (in 2D) and quasi-crystalline structures (in 3D). |
Check out these example projects to see how to build objects in PicoGK.
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Helix Heat Exchanger | An example how to build a heat exchanger using ShapeKernel and PicoGK |
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Rover Wheel | An example how to build rover-wheel-like objects using ShapeKernel and PicoGK |
If you want to compile your own version of the PicoGK runtime and build custom installers, here's the source code.
You are usually not interested in these repositories as an end user of PicoGK.
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| PicoGKRuntime | C++ source code for the PicoGK runtime module. |
| PicoGKInstaller | Source code for the PicoGK installers |
Tip
If you are looking for the PicoGK installers, download them here.
To understand the motivation behind PicoGK, check out this series of articles on the authors' personal website.
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Fundamentals of Computational Engineering — Part 1: A bit of history
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Fundamentals of Computational Engineering — Part 2: The technology
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Fundamentals of Computational Engineering — Part 3: Voxels to the rescue
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Fundamentals of Computational Engineering — Part 4: Implicits
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Fundamentals of Computational Engineering — Part 5: All you need is a few functions
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LEAP 71 Shape Kernel — Tutorial 1: Getting started with the ShapeKernel
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LEAP 71 Shape Kernel — Tutorial 2: Designing a computational heat exchanger
For more examples of what you can do with PicoGK, check out our Instagram. follow us on X, and visit the LEAP 71 website.
Image credits LEAP 71 / Fraunhofer IGCV (for multi material metal prints)