Molded fiber articles with ribbing structures

A method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processor, data of a source article, the source article to have a first thickness;
• determining, by the processor, a volume of fibers to be used in a formation of the source article based on the source article data;
• identifying, by the processor, based on the determined volume of fibers, a physical property level that an article is to have following formation of the article through a molded fiber formation process;
• determining, by the processor, a physical profile for the article that includes a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness and a ribbing structure extending from a surface of the article, the physical profile to cause the article to meet or exceed the identified physical property level while consuming a smaller volume of fibers;
• and
• generating, by the processor, a 3D digital model of the article corresponding to the article having the physical profile.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory on which is stored machine-readable instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
• determine an intended physical property level for an article to be formed through a molded fiber formation process;
• determine a physical profile for the article, the physical profile identifying a thickness and a ribbing structure that the article is to have to cause the article to have at least the intended physical property level while minimizing a volume of fibers used to form the article;
• and
• generate a three-dimensional (3D) digital model of the article to have the determined physical profile.