“3D Printing Is A Revolution”: A Talk With Artist Koen Van Daele
Long-time i.materialise user Koenraad Van Daele combines a classical background with modern techniques, creating some truly inspiring designs. In this user spotlight, we talk to him about the inspiration and techniques behind his work and why 3D printing is so important to him.
When Koen began his first project with i.materialise in 2008, it marked a significant shift in his journey through the art world. Classically trained as a marble sculptor from the age of 18, including two years spent in Carrara, Italy — the center of the stone sculpture industry — Koen now mainly focuses his attention on vector art and 3D modeling. But what inspired the shift?
“I bought my first computer in the 90s and started using graphic programs,” he tells us. “I realized that I had a talent for drawing with software. When you work as a web designer or system engineer like I did, it’s very easy to go from one platform to another, and in between, start designing for 3D.”
The perks of 3D printing
H
5 Things You Need To Consider When 3D Printing Wearables
Far from its days as a niche technology, 3D printing now accounts for more than 90% of the world’s in-ear hearing aids: and that’s just one example of how this technology is making waves in the manufacturing sector across diverse industries.
In recent years, our parent company Materialise has worked on many eyewear manufacturing projects, in addition to several 3D-printed fashion collaborations and other consumer products. Manufacturing wearable products like eyewear calls for a considerably different approach than non-wearable end-products — and 3D printing is now at a level where it has to address all of these requirements. In the world of wearables, products reflect the identity of different brands, and often one needs to address tough requirements related to both performance and appearance at the same time. So, what goes into the process of using 3D printing to manufacture a product that people will be wearing? Here are the five things you need to consider when 3D printing wear
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
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!
(more…)
How to Get the Perfect Multicolor+ 3D Print
Have you already discovered Multicolor+, our new 3D printing material in full color?
Maybe you are thinking about 3D printing your next design with Multicolor+ but you don’t know what to expect. In this article we will explain how the technology behind Multicolor+ actually works, what colors can you expect, and how to model your 3D design to get the perfect full-color 3D print.
Here’s all you need to know about 3D printing in Multicolor+!
(more…)
30 Years of Innovation: How Stereolithography Sparked Materialise’s Inventive Ethos
On June 28th of this year, i.materialise’s parent company Materialise reached its 30th anniversary, and to celebrate, we’re looking back at a different technology on our blog each month that has made the company what it is today. During August, we’re putting the focus on Stereolithography (SLA): the technology behind our Gray, Mammoth, Standard, and Transparent Resin materials.
(more…)
4 Designs On i.materialise To Help Stop COVID-19 As Lockdowns Lift
Though much of the world is under lockdown due to the coronavirus, some are starting to think of reigning in some measures while still staying safe. The 3D-printing community has been busy during this time developing designs to help the public do just that. From face mask clips to badge holders, here are a few of our favorite items available on i.materialise that were created to protect people in situations where contact with others is unavoidable.
(more…)
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing a 3D Model for 3D Printing
We know that modeling for 3D printing can be confusing: in 3D modeling, as in 3D printing, there is no one size fits all approach. We all use different software, print in different materials, and not only use different printers but also different printing technologies. So it’s perfectly normal to feel lost and it can sometimes seem difficult to design a perfect 3D model for 3D printing.
(more…)
Art Without Restrictions — Noell Oszvald’s 3D-Printed Sculpture Experiments with Shadows
As a visual artist and photographer, Noell Oszvald was curious about expanding her 3D sculpting skills into 3D printing when she stumbled upon an i.materialise blog post featuring our 2014 Designer of the Year, Danny van Ryswyk. Inspired by Danny’s art and encouraged to bring her 3D sculpting projects to the next level with 3D printing, Noell turned to i.materialise and its services, technologies, and materials when she decided to take her first shot at 3D printing her work.
(more…)
Artist Steven Naifeh Creates A Stunning Sculpture Inspired By Desert Roses
Desert roses are not only the name of a flower that blooms in arid environments — they are also what is referred to as a natural phenomenon in dry, sandy conditions when minerals form clusters that resemble rose blossoms.
Desert rose formations occur naturally and resemble rose blossoms.
Artist Steven Naifeh became inspired by these forms. His parents were in the U.S. Foreign Service and he spent his youth traveling the world to places where these crystalized rose-like structures appear, such as Libya, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Art has always been an important part of Steven’s life, starting at the age of ten when he first started creating his own. About 15 years ago, he once again began making art himself and created a series of large-scale paintings and sculptures based on geometric art from throughout the Middle East as well as modern sculptures inspired by these desert roses, with spectacular results.
Steven often finds inspiration in desert roses for his
