When 3D Printing And The World’s Fastest Solar Race Cars Meet
Solar cells, batteries, aerodynamics, and electronics. These technologies might be the path to sustainably meeting the majority of our energy needs, using only solar power. But is it possible to create race cars that use the sun as their only fuel source? The answer is: yes! And to do so, the Agoria Solar Team is partnering with Materialise yet again.
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ABS: Save Over 50% On This 3D Printing Classic
When you think of fused deposition modeling, your mind might jump to materials like ABS – this plastic is well-known in 3D printing crowds, after all. With an attractive new price to add to the list of reasons to love it, there’s never been a better time to try it for yourself.
Whether you’re an i.materialise veteran or thinking of starting your first-ever 3D printing project, we’ve got some exciting news that’s sure to be right up your alley. On July 22, 2021, we introduced a new price for ABS that will see you save more than 50% on every piece you print, depending on the size and shape of your model.
It’s a great opportunity for us to empower you to bring your projects to life and to share the joy of 3D printing with more people than ever before. But why should you choose it? Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons this material has stood the test of time that we think will inspire you to try it for yourself.
ABS is great for practical objects, but its surface textur
The Heat Is On: Get 10% Off On All Orders Over €250 With Our Promo Code “Creativesummer2021”!
This summer might be the perfect time to start a new 3D project and materialize your wildest ideas. If you are taking a holiday from work, you can dedicate more time to your hobbies, including exploring your creativity in 3D software and design something extraordinary. To give you an extra creative boost, this week, we are launching our special Summer Sale!
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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
