Method and apparatus for manufacturing objects having optimized response characteristics

A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

• designing a geometric model of said object;
• generating a computerized mathematical model of said object by discretizing a geometric model of said object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of said elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at said nodes;
• calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x};
• extracting material property coefficients from said material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model;
• 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;
• determining manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients;
• generating machine control instructions based on the determined manufacturing parameters;
• and
• controlling manufacturing equipment in accordance with the generated machine control instructions to manufacture the object to have different regions each having a different material property coefficient which provides a different potential in response to a field applied thereto.