Top Five 3D Prints that We’ve Seen In 2015

It’s World Creativity and Innovation Day – reason enough for us to look back at the Top 5 creative 3D prints that we’ve seen this year so far and to be reminded that 3D printing lives through great ideas and creative minds. So sit back and take a look at our Top 5!

5. 3D Printed Organic Table

What happens when traditional cabinetmaking and cutting-edge 3D printing techniques collide? Modern furniture designer Mathias Bengtsson dares to experiment with this premise and delighted us with his 3D printed “Big Growth Table” – an innovative mix of Materialise’s technology and nature’s beauty:

3D Printing meets traditional cabinetmaking: 3D Printed “Big Growth Table” by Mathias Bengtsson

3D Printing meets traditional cabinetmaking: 3D Printed “Big Growth Table” by Mathias Bengtsson

3D Printing meets traditional cabinetmaking: 3D Printed “Big Growth Table” by Mathias Bengtsson

3D Printing meets traditional cabinetmaking: 3D Printed “Big Growth Table” by Mathias Bengtsson

Read more about this 3D printed table in our blog post here. You can also check out this table in Brussels at the Making A Difference / A Difference in Making exhibition.

4. 3D Printed Modern Armor

To keep old stories fresh, theaters try to combine both classical and modern elements into their plays and stage sceneries. And that’s where 3D printing comes into play. To help modernize a classic story for the Royal Theatre of Madrid, Tomasz Dabert created an armor using 3D printing. The goal was to make sure that the silhouette remained in the style of a historical XV century cuirass, but the end product was actually built out of modern pixel-like cubes. Take a look at the remarkable result:

The 3D Printed armor in action. Photo from the Royal Theatre of Madrid.

The 3D Printed armor in action. Photo from the Royal Theatre of Madrid.

3D printing for the Royal Theatre of Madrid: Modern Armor

3D printing for the Royal Theatre of Madrid: Modern Armor

Read more about this 3D printed modern armor in our blog post here.

3. 3D Printed Giant Jaguar on a Yacht

When it comes down to sheer showmanship, we have a clear winner: a massive, 4-meter-long (13.6 ft) 3D printed model of a jaguar to be placed on the bow of KISMET, one of the few truly bespoke luxury yachts to hit the water in 2014. This feline was printed on Materialise’s giant Mammoth Stereolithography machine. See the 3D printed jaguar in action for yourself:

Photo: Backpage Images Ltd

Photo: Backpage Images Ltd

Photo: Backpage Images Ltd

Photo: Backpage Images Ltd

Read more about the jaguar including a video of how it was printed in our blog post here.

  1. 3D Printed Spider Dress

We’ve already heard about and seen several 3D printed dresses, but once again Anouk Wipprecht has produced something truly unique: A technology-equipped dress that defends itself. The Spider Dress simulates a spider’s territorial instincts using robotic arms that react according to data it picks up from motion and respiration sensors. When the wearer’s breath becomes heavy, the sensors read that she feels threatened, so the robotic arms on the dress will extend to defend her. Or if you approach the wearer in a quick, unexpected way, the defense mechanism will also be triggered. Once the threat has dissipated, the arms retract and the dress retains a softer expression:

A 3D Printed dress that uses robotic arms to defend itself: Anouk Wipprecht’s Spider Dress

A 3D Printed dress that uses robotic arms to defend itself: Anouk Wipprecht’s Spider Dress

A 3D Printed dress that uses robotic arms to defend itself: Anouk Wipprecht’s Spider Dress

A 3D Printed dress that uses robotic arms to defend itself: Anouk Wipprecht’s Spider Dress

Read more about the Spider Dress and watch a video of how it works in action in our blog post here.

1. 3D Printed Replica of a 6th Century Sword

Imagine a museum where you could touch and pick up each and every object. Holding a 6th Century sword in your own hands has so far been an impossible dream – that is, until Nils Anderssen created the perfect replica of a historical sword. Now visitors to the National Museum of Art in Norway can see not only the sword, but pick it up and feel it. Innovation at its best, straight from Norway:

3D printing historical artifacts: Nils Anderssen created a perfect replica of a 6th Century sword.

3D printing historical artifacts: Nils Anderssen created a perfect replica of a 6th Century sword.

3D printing historical artifacts: Nils Anderssen created a perfect replica of a 6th Century sword.

3D printing historical artifacts: Nils Anderssen created a perfect replica of a 6th Century sword.

Read more about this 3D Printed sword in our blog post here.

Did you spot a great i.materialise project that wasn’t listed here or would you like us to feature your own project one day? Share your story in our forum or tag @imaterialise on Twitter.