We sit down with Brad Rothenberg of nTop to explore how implicit modeling and signed distance fields make computer models that are robust, physics-aware and ready for fast iteration. From aircraft wings to heat exchangers and turbine cooling, we show how fields, splines, and optimization unlock design spaces that B-reps can’t handle.

• Why B‑rep models fail under topology changes 
• How signed distance fields encode geometry and space 
• Spline-driven aircraft surfaces and robust lofts 
• Custom blocks for reusable parametric assemblies 
• Duct and inlet optimization tied to flow targets 
• Integrated CFD and meshless solver connections 
• Heat exchangers for 3D printing and AI surrogates 
• Turbine blade cooling strategies and manufacturability limits 
• FEA, topology optimization, and nTop Connect SDK 
• Design sprints that compress vehicle-level development