## 3 Results
### Prerequisites
#### 3.1.1 Material and Manufacturing Process Selection  
The University of Applied Sciences has many different AM processes at its disposal. However, due to the geometrical challenges inherent to intricate lattice structures, only a select few of these AM technologies were considered. One of the available PBF processes was SLS (selective laser sintering). Hot Lithographywas selected as an available and suitable VPP technology. In addition to the preselected AM processes, suitable materials are of equal importance.  
One potential material for the saddle pads under consideration was thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). In addition to the material itself, the manufacturer of the SLS machine, EOS GmbH, provided comprehensive instructions for its utilization in production, which are elucidated in Section 3.1.2. In addition to exhibiting favorable tribological properties, the manufacturer asserts that the material exhibits high hydrolysis resistance, high UV stability, good shock absorption, and high durability, rendering the material suitable for applications that include shoe soles and lifestyle products that necessitate elastomeric properties. Furthermore, applications that are typically composed of foam can be replaced with lattice structures fabricated from EOS TPU 1301 [33]. The Shore hardness of the material is indicated as 87A. The default color of the material is white.  
Another noteworthy material for the fabrication of the developed saddle pads is Evonik's Infinam(r) FL 6300 L powered by Cubicure [34]. This material can be processed in Cubicure's machines, such as the Caligma [35]. These machines, one of which is located in the AM lab at the University of Applied Sciences Vienna, are based on the Hot Lithography process [36]. Evonik Infinam(r) FL 6300 L is defined as a rubber-like material that can be used in a variety of applications, including seals, handles, and dampers. Additionally, the material is purported to be suitable for utilization in all domains of AM, spanning from the creation of prototypes to the manufacturing of industrial series. Another noteworthy attribute of the material is its low-temperature elasticity. The default color is purple.  
Following a comprehensive evaluation of both the SLS and Hot Lithography processes, it was determined that the SLS method would be utilized for the fabrication of the bespoke saddle pads. This outcome can be attributed to the advantageous material properties of the TPU material in comparison to the Infinam material. The TPU material exhibited a significantly higher Young's modulus and elongation at break, resulting in components that are more robust and durable. Furthermore, the powder-like texture of the TPU material on the saddle pads offers enhanced friction, thereby ensuring a more stable position on the saddle compared to the smoother surfaces achieved by the Hot Lithography process, where sliding is more prevalent. This consideration assumes particular significance in the case of bespoke saddle pads, given the relatively limited margin for error in assuming optimal positioning on the saddle by the rider.  
The selected unit cell size for both the compression test specimens and the saddle pads was chosen as 7 mm in all principal directions. This is due to the fact that the use of smaller cells has been found to cause issues during the production process (see also Sections 3.1.2 and 3.5), while larger cells have an adverse effect on the resolution of the structure, making it challenging to accurately capture the desired saddle geometry. These observations have been made following an analysis of a series of test prints with varying cell size and strut thicknesses.