An Interview With Materialise’s CEO: The Top 5 Highlights
Looking back at three decades
In June 1990, Fried Vancraen and his wife, Hilde, founded Materialise and embarked on a mission to create a better and healthier world through our hardware and software infrastructure and an in-depth understanding of 3D printing.
But the radical change didn’t come overnight. With incremental steps, 3D printing has indeed revolutionized the way we manufacture products and has helped to save lives. This interview between Fried and Kristof Sehmke, our Communication Manager, goes over the last 30 years of the company’s story with a look forward to the future. Read on to learn about five highlights from the interview!
1. Surprise at the evolution of AM
Fried says, “I always recognized 3D printing as a paradigm shift in manufacturing and as a technology with huge opportunity,” but he has been pleasantly surprised with the technology as it exists today — especially when it comes to metal sintering. He adds, “It h
Five Top Tips To Perfect Your 3D Printing Files
When the time finally comes to hit that hallowed upload button and get your 3D printing project underway, you want to make sure your design follows every rule and is ready to go. While our team is always here to double-check every submission and flag any errors, following our five top tips will help ensure every file is printable and maybe even cut down on some of your costs while you’re at it.
#1: Make your model watertight
For your file to be ready to print, all of your surfaces must be connected without any gaps in the sides. So, before you submit your design, look over your model and ask yourself one question: if I were to fill it with water, would it flow out? If the answer is yes, it’s important to close it, as shown in the example below. This process is also known as ‘creating a manifold model’.
In this example, the clear gap in the design means it would not be suitable to print.
#2: Add wall thickness and volume
Every surface of your 3D model must be assigned a wall th
Getting Started With 3D Printing: Which Technology Should You Choose?
Whether it’s on an industrial scale or a bit of DIY, 3D printing technology comes in all shapes and sizes. Wrapping your head around the different options and the advantages of each is one of the first steps to getting a great project off the ground. With this helpful guide, you’ll learn all you need to know for when the time comes to make your choice.
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What Materials Should You Use For 3D Printing? The Choice Is Yours.
You’ve got a great idea, you’ve drawn it out, and you’d love to see it come to life through 3D printing. But what material should you choose? With i.materialise, it’s entirely up to you — whether it’s plastic, metal, or resin, you’ve got plenty of options, and we’re here to walk you through them.
But first… what do you need to know?
The material you choose will impact more than how your model looks and feels — it’ll even decide which 3D printing technology is used to make it! But, what matters most is that you get to see just how many options you really have — by discovering all the possibilities, you’ll be able to create a design that truly makes you happy and best suits your needs.
3D printing in Polyamide
When you’re looking to create a model from plastic, Polyamide is the most popular choice. When used for Laser Sintering, it is strong, flexible, and can create moving or interlocking parts. Though naturally white, Polyamide can be easily dyed to bring a burst of color to your d
From Swarovski Competition To Reusable Bag: How An Innovative Designer Created A Fully 3D-Printed Purse
Since 2009, when we launched our i.materialise platform, our mission is to enable creative people worldwide to design and sell their unique 3D-printed objects. One of the makers who caught our attention is Marta Cherednik, a Singapore-based 3D printing designer who runs a design studio MALINKO.
Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, Marta has quite a peculiar background story. First, she studied geology. After graduating, she moved to Australia, where she worked in mines for a few years as a geologist. Later on, she decided to change her career. She was interested in learning how things are made and how to find a creative outlet for her ideas, so she studied Industrial Design. For seven years, she worked for an Australian train company, where she honed her skills in designing trains and learning about highly technical aspects of industrial design.
Despite the exciting job, she wanted to express her creativity, even more, so she started designing small 3D-printed objects. Her des
Transformative TV: 3D Printing Helps Create New Realities For People With Disabilities
Lien is a rock guitarist with a degenerative spinal condition who used to play seated on a box in a corner — now she commands the stage from her throne. Catering manager Debby was born without a left hand — today, she serves tables as efficiently as any of her waiters. Two very different dreams have become reality. And the team at Materialise Mindware used 3D printing to help make it happen.
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Castles In The Air? How 3D Printing Elevates Architecture
From aerospace to mass customized wearables, 3D printing brings the house down in so many business verticals — including architecture.
Imagine: The architect sits at their drafting table, their head filled with lofty designs. When it comes to helping their clients and partners see what’s in their mind’s eye, sketches and virtual renderings can only get them so far.
That’s where 3D printing comes in: one of the technology’s benefits is that it can expand design freedom.
Let’s look at four times architects were able to add new dimensions to their designs.
Sagrada Familia
A 3D model of a Sagrada Familia cathedral presented in the 3D printing software Magics by Materialise.
The team working on the world-famous Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona has been using 3D printing since 2001. But even back in the late 19th century, the architect Antoni Gaudí understood the importance of moving from 2D to 3D and would often handcraft models of the elaborate building to get a be
A Groom-To-Be Creates His Own 3D-Printed Wedding Band For The Most Special Day Of His Life
Wedding days are special days for everyone, and Daniel Weinberger is no exception. To celebrate love and to tie the knot with his beloved wife, this creative IT professional decided to make a custom-made 3D-printed wedding band.
Based in California, Dan has been a long-term fan of 3D printing. Back when he was still in school, he was fascinated with SolidWorks, a 3D CAD software that helps designers create authentic design experiences. Even though he built his career in IT, his interest in design and 3D printing didn’t cease.
“I’ve known about 3D printers for years! Currently, I work in medical device production, and our R&D department has resin printers to quickly prototype and design products we make. It’s nice to have the possibility to see how 3D printing works!” says Dan.
Daniel Weinberger, the maker & designer of the 3D printed wedding band. Photo credit: Daniel Wenberger
Creating a personalized wedding band is a beautiful way to honor a unique bond with your partner
How To Get Your Perfect Brass 3D Print
Are you thinking about 3D printing in brass? Would you like to know more about the material and all the available finishes? Are you interested in finding out how your 3D design is turned into a perfect brass 3D print? Would you like to discover some design tips and tricks for your next brass 3D print? Then read on, because you will find the answers to all your questions in this blog post!
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Get To Know Our Rubber-Like Material And Its New Extra Smooth Finish
In autumn 2019, we announced our new and improved TPU offering! At i.materialise, we’re always working hard to expand our range of materials and finishes. And now, we’re introducing a new finish to give Rubber-like parts an ultra-sleek look: extra smooth.
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