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3D Printing Blog

The i.materialise blog keeps you updated about outstanding 3D designs, the newest 3D printing technologies and the best 3D modeling software tutorials.
The International Space Station Welcomes The Moon Gallery Art Collection Onboard, Including A Miniature 3D-Printed Cube

The International Space Station Welcomes The Moon Gallery Art Collection Onboard, Including A Miniature 3D-Printed Cube

Although the Moon is around 238,855 miles (or 384,400 km away), humanity has always been fascinated by it. From ancient lunar calendars to the Moon landing in 1969 to low and high tides affecting shorelines at this very moment, Earth’s natural satellite is entwined in our past and present. But how will it shape our future? Discover how the Moon Gallery — including a 3D-printed cube — aims to teach us about the unique conditions in space for future generations and extend humankind’s cultural reach into this final frontier.

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To See A Song: Materialise Designers Turn Abstract Idea Into Personalized Car Speaker Grill Design

To See A Song: Materialise Designers Turn Abstract Idea Into Personalized Car Speaker Grill Design

This project began with an idea that was quite basic: giving automotive brands a way to offer personalization in luxury cars. From there, the Design and Engineering team of our parent company, Materialise, tapped deep into the design portion of their role, creating a concept that would enable consumers to make a car truly their own. A design that would allow drivers to not only listen to their favorite song while driving down the highway but to see it as well.

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Recreating Leuven Town Hall In Intricate Detail Using 3D Printing And 100% Re-Used Powder

Recreating Leuven Town Hall In Intricate Detail Using 3D Printing And 100% Re-Used Powder

Leuven is a hotbed for innovation, renowned for its world-famous university and scientific and research-based institutions. The city is also prominent for its drive towards sustainability, gaining accolades such as the European Green Leaf Award (EGLA) and the title of European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) in the last few years. 

Stad Leuven is constantly investigating ways to combine innovation and climate-change initiatives to improve the lives of residents, typically working with local suppliers and businesses that share their ethos. That’s why they contacted our parent company, Materialise, to help with their latest project, an intricate 3D-printed model of Leuven’s Town Hall.

Leuven Town Hall: a gothic masterpiece

Leuven Town Hall (Stadhuis in Dutch) is over 500 years old, so it’s normal that the building needs a bit of a renovation. Certain areas will have improved accessibility, while other structures will be worked on in the future. The restoration plan was the inspirat

3D Printing Technologies: Laser Sintering

3D Printing Technologies: Laser Sintering

Contrary to popular belief, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to 3D printing. Although we offer 17 different materials and over 90 possible color and finish combinations, it takes us several different technologies to get the job done.  In general, 3D printing technologies can be split up into two groups: direct and indirect 3D printing. The main difference lies in the fact that the design is made from 3D printing (direct) or 3D printing was used in the process of creating your model (indirect). In this article, we’ll dive into laser sintering, by far one of the most popular 3D printing technologies, and an example of a direct 3D printing technique.  (more…)

“3D Printing Is A Revolution”: A Talk With Artist Koen Van Daele

“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

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Why Not Make Your Own? From Watch Collector To Watch Designer

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.

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Have You Seen These Common 3D Printing Myths?

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