Why Not Make Your Own? From Watch Collector To Watch Designer
Five or six years ago, Juha Savisalo started dabbling in a new hobby: collecting and repairing old mechanical watches. As his interest grew, he thought, “Why not create a design of my own?” And that’s what led him to 3D printing watch components through i.materialise. Read on to learn about Juha’s process of creating the watch, why he opted for the methods he chose, and more.
(more…)
Have You Seen These Common 3D Printing Myths?
There are a lot of 3D printing myths circulating the Internet. Some are wacky and probably influenced by cartoons such as The Jetsons — for example, every home will soon have a 3D printer. Other myths revolve around questions such as: “Are the costs for 3D-printed parts different to traditionally manufactured parts, and do they have a similar structural integrity?”
Well, in this blog, we’ll be addressing these three fallacies. So, get ready as we shatter these common misconceptions with the help of our resident myth-buster, Aran Maguire, Product Manager at our parent company, Materialise.
Myth #1: 3D-printed parts are weaker than traditionally manufactured components
This underlying myth is based on a specific notion around fused deposition modeling (FDM). This technology is the most well-known in the consumer space, and it’s true that 3D-printed parts are weaker in one direction: the Z-axis. However, it’s possible to eliminate many of the weaknesses found in the Z-axis by optimiz
How Is 3D Printing Shaping Education?
Did you start the year promising yourself that you would exercise more, eat less, and improve your mind? Traditionally, the beginning of the year is for reflection and goal setting. However, research shows that 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by February due to a lack of goals*. Although we can’t help with your fitness or nutritional decisions, we’re determined to help you stay motivated and reach your goals with 3D printing.
We’ve come up with five stories that illustrate how 3D printing is being used in education worldwide — benefiting teachers, students, and institutions for the better. Enjoy!
1. Engineering students create one of the world’s fastest solar race cars
Our journey begins in Belgium, where the Agoria Solar Team from KU Leuven University strives to build the most innovative and efficient solar cars. The current European and World Champions are constantly seeking that extra edge to keep them ahead of the competition.
That’s why they’ve partne
3D Printing Trend For 2022: The Increasing Relevance Of Smart Data In 3D Printing
Today, 3D printing continues to transform factory floors as companies adopt 3D printing for large-scale production across multiple sites. Historically, a lot of 3D printing production happened in isolation — separated from the conventional manufacturing process. But as the walls between these two manufacturing environments disappear, these two eco-systems now start to connect and create a more integrated production environment.
(more…)
How 3D Printing Made A Life‑Sized Model Airplane From World War II
By creating a full-scale model of a 1930s airplane using 3D printing, the Manufacturing team from our parent company Materialise has breathed new life into a ghost from the past. Additive manufacturing was used to create the airplane model itself as well as to create assembly tools to deliver the consistent results required. After almost two years of development, the completed model is about to go on display.
When a government agency wanted to draw the attention of visitors to an old military landing strip in Honsem, Belgium, they needed a centerpiece for the planned development of the rural landscape. They wanted something which would represent the historic importance the area had during World War II. A lifesize model of a Belgian reconnaissance airplane of the 1930s, the Renard R31, was a perfect choice. VLM (Vlaamse Landmaatschappij) is a government agency committed to rural development by restoring or develo
Brighten Up Your Holiday Season With 3D-Printed Gifts
Whether it’s a gift with an extra personal touch or a decoration for your tree that you just won’t find in shops, there’s plenty to inspire you right here on i.materialise. We’ve dipped a toe into that pool of creativity to bring you some of our favorite ideas in our very own holiday season gift guide.
The lights go up. The sweaters go on. You fondly remember that Michael Bublé exists. It can only mean one thing: the holiday season is here again. It’s a wonderful time of year, filled with friends, family, and of course, a thoughtful gift or two. This year, you can make it more special, unique, and fun than ever by combining it with your love of 3D printing. Just take a look at some of these incredible designs to get you started.
Deck the halls in whatever you want
Tired of tinsel and shiny metal balls? Probably not — it’s hard to beat a classic, after all. But you can definitely add something new to your festive set-up. Take this beautiful Quin Ornament by Bathsheba Grossman or t
Finding The Sweet Spot By Designing For 3D Printing
Confiserie Van Damme produces over 19,500 tons of marshmallows in different shapes, sizes, and varieties every single year: a delicious product with small margins that requires relatively expensive machinery. And that’s where our parent company Materialise’s advisory team Mindware came in. With their knowledge of design for 3D printing, they could efficiently translate an essential machine part for design — the nozzle — into something customizable yet more affordable. 3D printing’s design freedom and short development time was an essential key for the company to open up production, with new designs for clients that they previously had not been able to work with.
Part of being able to introduce new styles of marshmallows is having a unique nozzle that can pump out marshmallow cream in the correct flow, shape, and separation of colors to create a particular design. Typically, a single nozzle consists of 12 metal parts that are welded together and a nut. The conve
How To Get An Instant Price For Your 3D Prints
Are you thinking about a really cool 3D design but you’re on a budget and don’t know in which material you should print it? Or maybe you want to know how much a print will cost to make sure that the sizes you would like are affordable? For example, will polyamide be more affordable than resin for your print?
To help you find the answer to all these questions, read on to discover how to get an instant price quote for your 3D print on our platform.
(more…)
11 Fascinating Facts About 3D Printing
If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re no stranger to 3D printing and know a fair bit about it — but we reckon we can still surprise you with our 11 fascinating facts from the wide world of additive manufacturing.
Every day’s a school day here at i.materialise. We’re always learning something new, and we’re more than happy to share that knowledge with you. That’s why we’ve dug a little deeper into the past, present, and future of 3D printing to come up with the greatest listicle the internet has ever seen.
OK, so we’re exaggerating a little. But what we DO have are some entertaining facts that we think you will enjoy. Let’s take a look!
It’s older than you think
Many see 3D printing as something for the future or consider it a budding technology. Compared to some of the alternatives, that’s arguably true, but it doesn’t change the fact that 3D printing is older than you might think. It started in the mid-1980s when Chuck Hull invented the stereolithography pr
3D-Printed Molds For Special Concrete Pillars Brings Revolutionary Sustainable House One Step Closer
Sustainability, environmentalism, and climate change are subjects at the forefront of hearts and minds across the planet. Recent events, from forest fires and floods to record weather temperatures and shifting ecosystems, indicate that we must make a concerted effort to come up with sustainable solutions to global issues. One such problem is providing adequate shelter to urban slum families in sub-standard housing in Africa. What could help solve this crisis? The Tridealhouse project.
Tridealhouse — a triangular house that stimulates happy living, urban farming, and sustainable utilities to help tackle urban poverty — solves five slum household deprivations as defined by the UN-Habitat while providing food and micro jobs. To confront such wide-ranging issues, this ambitious project needed more than just theoretical knowledge, it also required specific materials and expertise. That’s why the Trideal team contacted our parent company, Materialise, to collaborate on making special, 3D-
