Optimization of a production process

A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more data processing systems to optimize a production process for a component to be produced by additive manufacturing, by simulating the production process, wherein predetermined required properties of the component are specified as boundary conditions of the simulation, the executable instructions comprising:

• determining a position of the component in a production space optimized based on a process optimization criterion, wherein the position of the component is automatically determined such that dislocations of the component due to gravitational forces are minimized;
• computing dislocations of the component and stresses on the component caused by the production process, wherein the dislocations, the stresses, or the dislocations and the stresses caused by the production process are caused by gravitational forces, changes in density of a material to be used for production of the component, or gravitational forces and changes in density of the material to be used for production of the component, wherein computing dislocations of the component comprises calculating displacements or shifts of the component, and wherein computing stresses on the component comprises calculating temperature-related changes in density of the material to be used for production of the component;
• determining supporting structures optimized based on the process optimization criterion, wherein the supporting structures counteract the dislocations, the stresses, or the dislocations and the stresses;
• determining a portion of the design of the component optimized based on a component optimization criterion;
• and
• producing the component via the production process based on the determined optimized position of the component in the production space and the determined optimized supporting structures.