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.
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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-
A Trip Down Memory Lane: How 3D Printing Is Bringing 80s Rain Boots Back
The 80s were a decade of bold style, colors, and shapes — and iconic rain boots. For years, boys and girls from all around the world had fun during wet weather with Wellipets, a rain boot in the shape of Ribbit, the frog. Today, Wellipets have been entirely reinvented, from the fitting process to becoming a fully sustainable brand. All made possible with 3D printing technology.
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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
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
