Abstract: A method of optimizing mechanical design for additive manufacturing, comprising: acquiring a digital file containing a description of a mechanical assembly, the assembly includes a plurality of mechanical parts; scanning the digital file to identify mechanical connections between adjacent of the plurality of mechanical parts; identifying a full cluster of connected mechanical parts based on the scanning, the connected mechanical parts are designed to be manufactured from similar materials; and identifying a usable cluster of connected mechanical parts to be combined into one mechanical part, the usable cluster is a sub-cluster of the full cluster, by iteratively: estimating eligibility of the mechanical parts in a current cluster to be manufactured as one mechanical part by additive manufacturing, the current cluster is a sub-cluster of the full cluster; and removing at least one mechanical part from the current cluster.

Abstract: A method of optimizing mechanical design for additive manufacturing, comprising: acquiring a digital file containing a description of a mechanical assembly, the assembly includes a plurality of mechanical parts; scanning the digital file to identify mechanical connections between adjacent of the plurality of mechanical parts; identifying a full cluster of connected mechanical parts based on the scanning, the connected mechanical parts are designed to be manufactured from similar materials; and identifying a usable cluster of connected mechanical parts to be combined into one mechanical part, the usable cluster is a sub-cluster of the full cluster, by iteratively: estimating eligibility of the mechanical parts in a current cluster to be manufactured as one mechanical part by additive manufacturing, the current cluster is a sub-cluster of the full cluster; and removing at least one mechanical part from the current cluster.

Abstract: A support structure for a castor, a castor provided with such a support-structure, and a castored trolley is described. The support structure comprises a first member 5, a second member 3 that is rotatable with respect to the first member about a pivot axis, and magnetic means 21, 23, 61, 63 that is operable up to a certain torque to restrain movement of the rotatable member from one angular position with respect to the first member. Preferably the magnetic means comprises at least one hair of magnetically co-operable components. Preferably one component of the at least one pair of components is a permanent magnet. In another angular positions without registration of the first and second members free rotation is possible unless and until re-registration occurs.