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Tritone Studio

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Tritone Studio

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Tritone Studio

Tritone Studio is a software designed to prepare 3D printing files for Tritone's advanced additive manufacturing machines. Unlike traditional slicers, Tritone Studio facilitates the preparation of multi-material, high-resolution metal and ceramic printing processes. The project aimed to bridge the gap between industrial pre-slicing software and Tritone's proprietary printing technology, ensuring an intuitive and efficient workflow for users.

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Role:

User Research, Interaction, Visual design, Prototyping & Testing

Industry:

Metals & Ceramics Additive Manufacturing

Duration:

2022-2024

Overview

At the time of this project, I was working at TENA Studio, a design and innovation firm specializing in UX/UI for complex industrial and medical applications. This experience played a crucial role in shaping the approach for Tritone Studio, ensuring the software remained intuitive while aligning with Tritone’s existing ecosystem.

Challenges

1. Integrating 3D Visualization from Bitmap-Based Data

Initially, the slicing process was based on bitmap slices generated from an external pre-slicer. This method limited user interaction and visualization. To improve usability, we transitioned to the 3MF file format, enabling a true 3D representation of the model on the build plate within the software.

2. Translating Machine Interface Branding to a Windows-Based Application

Tritone Studio was the first standalone software designed by Tritone, separate from the embedded machine interface. The challenge was to adapt the existing HMI branding and interaction patterns to a Windows environment while ensuring consistency, usability, and adherence to Windows UI conventions.

3. Feature Scope & Functionality Prioritization

Since this was Tritone's first external software, various core features had to be defined from scratch. We encountered fundamental UX/UI decisions such as:

  • Creating profiles for different material and printing setups.

  • Managing the duality of slicing vs. viewing modes.

  • Implementing multi-layer action visualization, allowing users to track multiple modifications applied to a single layer.

Slicing & Layer Management


  • Dynamic Layer Height Adjustment – Users can modify layer thickness interactively, with color-coded feedback to indicate different heights.

  • Datum Layer Editing – Establishes a reference layer to ensure alignment and accuracy across layers.

  • Freeze at Layer – Allows users to halt material application beyond a selected layer for specific design constraints.



Slicing & Layer Management


  • Dynamic Layer Height Adjustment – Users can modify layer thickness interactively, with color-coded feedback to indicate different heights.

  • Datum Layer Editing – Establishes a reference layer to ensure alignment and accuracy across layers.

  • Freeze at Layer – Allows users to halt material application beyond a selected layer for specific design constraints.



Slicing & Layer Management


  • Dynamic Layer Height Adjustment – Users can modify layer thickness interactively, with color-coded feedback to indicate different heights.

  • Datum Layer Editing – Establishes a reference layer to ensure alignment and accuracy across layers.

  • Freeze at Layer – Allows users to halt material application beyond a selected layer for specific design constraints.



3D Visualization & Model Interaction

  • Real-time 3D View of Models – Unlike bitmap-based slicers, users can now manipulate and inspect the model in 3D before printing.

  • Layer Overlays & Cross-Section Views – Provides in-depth visualization of internal structures within a single print job.

  • Multi-Layer Actions – Enables stacked operations on a single layer, such as support structure placement and material parameter adjustments.


3D Visualization & Model Interaction

  • Real-time 3D View of Models – Unlike bitmap-based slicers, users can now manipulate and inspect the model in 3D before printing.

  • Layer Overlays & Cross-Section Views – Provides in-depth visualization of internal structures within a single print job.

  • Multi-Layer Actions – Enables stacked operations on a single layer, such as support structure placement and material parameter adjustments.


3D Visualization & Model Interaction

  • Real-time 3D View of Models – Unlike bitmap-based slicers, users can now manipulate and inspect the model in 3D before printing.

  • Layer Overlays & Cross-Section Views – Provides in-depth visualization of internal structures within a single print job.

  • Multi-Layer Actions – Enables stacked operations on a single layer, such as support structure placement and material parameter adjustments.


User Interface & Workflow Optimization

User Interface & Workflow Optimization

User Interface & Workflow Optimization

Profile Creation Interface

The profile creation interface was designed to allow users to define and save configurations for different materials, layer settings, and print parameters. Given the complexity of Tritone’s multi-material printing, users needed an intuitive way to manage these variables efficiently. The UI was structured to enable quick access to preset configurations while allowing customization through parameter sliders, dropdowns, and direct input fields. One of the key challenges was ensuring that profiles could be seamlessly integrated across different sessions, maintaining consistency between different print jobs while allowing flexibility for adjustments.


Profile Creation Interface

The profile creation interface was designed to allow users to define and save configurations for different materials, layer settings, and print parameters. Given the complexity of Tritone’s multi-material printing, users needed an intuitive way to manage these variables efficiently. The UI was structured to enable quick access to preset configurations while allowing customization through parameter sliders, dropdowns, and direct input fields. One of the key challenges was ensuring that profiles could be seamlessly integrated across different sessions, maintaining consistency between different print jobs while allowing flexibility for adjustments.


Profile Creation Interface

The profile creation interface was designed to allow users to define and save configurations for different materials, layer settings, and print parameters. Given the complexity of Tritone’s multi-material printing, users needed an intuitive way to manage these variables efficiently. The UI was structured to enable quick access to preset configurations while allowing customization through parameter sliders, dropdowns, and direct input fields. One of the key challenges was ensuring that profiles could be seamlessly integrated across different sessions, maintaining consistency between different print jobs while allowing flexibility for adjustments.


Results

  • Improved Visualization & User Control – The transition to 3MF enabled full 3D model manipulation, reducing pre-print errors.

  • Consistent Brand Adaptation – Successfully translated the machine's HMI design language into a standalone Windows application.

  • Streamlined Printing Preparation – Users can now fine-tune parameters, adjust slicing settings, and visualize results within a single interface, enhancing workflow efficiency.

Tritone Studio established a strong foundation for Tritone's digital ecosystem, setting a new standard for software-assisted metal and ceramic additive manufacturing.

Conclusion

This project reinforced the importance of modular UX design, especially when adapting an interface from an embedded system to a Windows environment. The need to balance technical constraints, usability, and branding consistency was a recurring challenge that required iterative design and close collaboration with engineers. Additionally, working on Tritone Studio emphasized the importance of clear visual hierarchy in multi-layered UI interactions, ensuring users can efficiently interact with complex data representations without unnecessary cognitive load.