Method and apparatus for manufacturing objects having optimized response characteristics

A method for determining machine control instructions for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} that is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising:

• (a) generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and specifying values of the field {f} and potential {x} relative to the finite elements;
• (b) calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x};
• (c) extracting material property coefficients from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in the computerized mathematical model;
• (d) comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials;
• (e) determining at least one material for the object and a manufacturing process for manufacturing the material based on the matched material property coefficients;
• (f) modifying the computerized mathematical model of the object based on the determined material and manufacturing process;
• (g) repeating (b) through (d) based on the modified computerized mathematical model;
• (h) determining manufacturing parameters for manufacturing the object based on the matched material property coefficients obtained by the repeating of (b) through (d);
• and
• (i) generating machine control instructions for controlling manufacturing equipment in accordance with the manufacturing parameters determined at (h).