3D printing has offered incredible new opportunities for manufacturers and Shapeways customers around the globe, allowing businesses to grow substantially serving critical industries like aerospace and medicine, as well as consumer goods, fine jewelry, and infinitely more. Product design continues to be transformed by the benefits of additive manufacturing, from the ability to create rapid prototypes during research and development to making high-performance, functional products.

One of the areas benefiting most, however, is at the educational level—and on several levels. Students from elementary schools all the way to colleges and universities find their learning experiences enriched by digging deeper into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM learning), learning to apply their knowledge to real-world applications, and later potentially going on to enjoy careers that require skills related to 3D printing.

Students Represent the Future of Design and Manufacturing

Nowhere is the potential of 3D printing more apparent than in the hands of students, bringing forth the vision of the future under the guidance of teachers worldwide. No matter what the grade, STEM education in the classroom or lab is a plus for students who are able to expand their knowledge in terms of creativity, critical and conceptual thinking, and project management.  

Historically, 3D printing and education have been linked, not only because some well-known 3D printer manufacturers have offered special programs and discounts for creating impressive labs, but also because students tend to be very excited about the technology—seeking it out whether at school, in the public library, or even at home. Not only that, the novelty and pure magic of 3D printing makes learning fun, and for some students may even help with learning obstacles in areas like math as well as expanding into all the other STEM disciplines, to include art.

STEM Education and 3D Printing Are Critical to Many Skill Sets

It’s no secret that manufacturers around the world continue to have too many empty seats at the table in terms of jobs requiring STEM or 3D printing-related skills, and these types of positions are expected to continue out-pacing non-STEM related careers. Without fundamental training in schools, not many seniors will be ready to take on such challenging jobs.

Some of the problem may be derived from a lack of equipment in schools—often related to the lack of knowledge in elementary and secondary schools, and colleges too, for maintaining 3D printing hardware and software. Without proper education on how to set up a school program, there may also be continued confusion over what types of materials to use and how to budget for everything required. There may also be difficulty in setting up times for classes and students to share 3D printers, or it may be too challenging to set up after-school programs.

The beauty of working with Shapeways is that teachers and students can work on 3D designs from the desktop and then send them to Shapeways for 3D printing without any of the hassle of buying equipment or dealing with maintenance and training. Students also learn valuable skills during the process of uploading 3D models to Shapeways, adhering to design and detail guidelines, and overcoming printability issues when a 3D model requires improvement.

Teachers and Students Often Learn Together

Because so much of 3D design and 3D printing is uncharted territory, many teachers are quick to admit that often they are learning right along with their students—especially in more complicated and comprehensive projects like creating prosthetics for kids in need in developing countries, or engineering robots—for contests where the competition is fierce. 

These types of highly interactive learning assignments are also great for drawing in students who may be reluctant to get involved in areas like math or science. Ultimately, a wonderful sense of camaraderie often evolves as students work in teams for contests or in taking on problem-solving tasks.

3D printed models are extremely popular for numerous applications, to include:

• Scientific color models that may display proteins or medical animations, converting data from X-rays.
• Extremely detailed, photorealistic, anatomically correct medical models which are suitable not just for extremely valuable medical student training, but also in educating patients and their families.
• Architectural displays which can be so detailed and expansive that they may depict an entire city block or neighborhood, including infrastructure details.

Whether you are a student or a teacher, get a head start now on 3D printing models and highly effective visual aids for the classroom–and don’t forget to apply for your educational discount. It’s as easy as creating an account, uploading your model, and following simple instructions to get 15% off from there as long as you have an active .edu email address.

About Shapeways

Contact Shapeways now to enjoy the benefits of advanced technology and materials for 3D printing creations for the classroom with accuracy, complex detail, and no limits in terms of mass customization or single part orders. Shapeways has worked with over 1 million customers in 160 countries to make over 21 million parts! Read about case studies, find out more about Shapeways solutions, and get instant quotes here.

The post Encouraging 3D Printing in the Classroom appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

The COVID-19 pandemic has closed schools all over the world and left teachers with the challenge of providing home-bound students with productive education programs. Thankfully, there are online resources that teach 3D printing skills through distant learning and are especially geared towards students. These programs are perfect for teachers (and parents) looking for fun and educational programs during this time.

Don’t have access to a 3D printer through your community? Shapeways can print and ship to 130 countries worldwide, so your students can continue to create while practicing social distancing at home.

Ready to get started? Here are seven online resources, categorized by target age group, to help your students explore the power of 3D technology:

Activities for Pre-High School Students

Grades K-8: Makers Empire 3D Design App and Challenges

Australian-based Edtech company Makers Empire facilitates learning 3D technology for teaching STEM, Design Thinking and Project Based Learning to grades K-8. The Makers Empire 3D Modeling app is specifically geared towards this age range so that kids can continue learning at home during quarantine. They also released a series of design challenges like the Handshake Alternative and Cough Catcher to help students get creative in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities for 5th Graders and Above

Grades 5-12: Tinkercad – 3D CAD Design Tool

Tinkercad is a free 3D modeling program suited for students in grades 5-12 and beginners of any age beyond. It is used in a web browser and provides learning and teaching support depending on the user. People of all levels can also upload their design to share or tinker with someone else’s design. You can upload Tinkercad designs directly to Shapeways to print.

Activities for All Ages

Morphi 3D Modeling Tablet App

Morphi is another software that is easy to learn and caters to students of all levels. Their website provides tutorial videos for teachers and curriculum development for grades K-12. In the wake of the Corona pandemic they launched Morphi Design School, which consists of a series of video tutorials, a full handbook detailing each tool, and 3D modeling projects.

Leopoly 3D Creation Platform

Leopoly offers a browser-based program for beginners that allows you to start your own design from scratch, upload a previous design of your own or customize existing designs in their community library. The program offers three different ways of getting started from scratch, including Digital Sculpting, Formshifting and Cubecraft.

SketchUp for Schools

SketchUp for Schools is browser based so that students can access it from home. It provides curriculums and projects for different subjects including modeling a cell for Science class, building a set for Theater or a birdhouse for Shop Class. It also features a number of basic and introductory projects for those just getting started.

NASA’s Printable Models

NASA’s 3D resources website currently hosts 105 printable models for students to download and print as visual learning tools. Models include the Hubble telescope, satellites, landing sites and more. Having access to physical models helps engage students more effectively than 2D images. Those who don’t have access to a 3D printer can print with Shapeways.

The Edgerton Center MIT – 3D Modeling Instructables

Instructables has a whole section devoted to 3D printing and features projects for all skill levels. The MIT Edgerton Center’s Instructables page in particular provides different 3D modeling activities for students grades K-12 with Tinkercad. Their website provides helpful resources for educators including tutorials, workshops and a newsletter. They also feature an Idea Gallery where other teachers have shared their projects.

Help your students bring their new 3D creations to life by printing with Shapeways!

The post Educational Resources for Students 3D Printing from Home appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Illustrating Complex Concepts

One of the biggest uses of 3D printing in University classrooms is to print models as visual and tactile learning aids. Ognjen Miljanic, a Professor at the University of Houston 3D printed large scale models of crystal molecules that would typically be too small to see with a naked eye. This allows for more information to absorb faster than with two dimensional models or text explanations in any area of study. 

Prosthetics

Duke University’s eNable, a club made up of engineering students, work to create dynamic prosthetics for three different recipients per school year. Starting with open source files such as Unlimbited Arm, K1 Hand and Gripper Thumb Hand they modify the designs to be appropriate for each specific recipient. For Brooke, a pharmacy school graduate, students modified the grip between thumb and index so that she could pinch skin for subcutaneous injections. Many other Universities are using 3D printing to create prosthetics, as a way to both give back to their communities and continue innovating in the field.

Robotics

3D printing typically serves to create parts and prototypes in robotics and engineering but students at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University used a multi-material printer to create an entire soft-bodied jumping robot. They used a nine layer material transition from rigid core components to soft exterior components in a single print session. This results in a high level of durability that allows for the improvement of a wide range of robotic and engineering designs. 

Paleontology

When 45% of the Dreadnoughtus schrani dinosaur’s bones were uncovered between 2005 and 2009 by professor Dr. Kenneth Lacovara’s team from Drexel University, a virtual mount of the dinosaur’s skeleton was created by 3D scanning each bone. Using these 3D scans, a doctoral candidate Kristyn Voegele from the Drexel College of Arts and Sciences joined with the College of Engineering to 3D print models of the dinosaur’s bones and muscles to further study how the Dreadnoughtus schrani moved. The use of 3D printing makes crucial improvements in the way extinct creatures can be studied because it allows them to be explored in a physical context, rather than simply digital.

Art

Noah Gunther from Lawrence University integrated 3D models and a 3D environment he created to produce an installation called Mystery Ocean that deals with the area between our physical world and the computer world.

Creating Accessibility to 3D Printing Technology

The Technical University of Berlin recently opened a 3D printing cafe that is available for use to help students and non-students alike familiarize themselves with 3D printing technology. The cafe uses mostly recyclable raw materials to maintain sustainability and be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Optimizing the 3D Printing Process

The use of 3D printers in universities also gives students an opportunity to improve the process themselves by making the devices run more efficiently. At MIT, researchers replaced the pinch-wheel design on a desktop 3D printer with a screw design that pulls the textured filament to the printhead faster than any other printer on the market. This assures that the technology will continue to improve to make printing faster and more efficient to industries that rely on it.

These are a fraction of the projects utilizing 3D printing in Universities and the presence of this technology can only expand and open new avenues of innovation in future generations of students. Learn how Shapeways can help you with your education projects. 

The post 7 Ways Universities Are Using 3D Printing appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Versatile Plastic is a durable nylon plastic that can be used for a wide range of applications, both for prototyping and for end products. Printed using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), when thin, it’s flexible enough for hinges and springs and when thick, it’s strong enough for structural components. ​

Ideal Applications Include:

• Robotics
• Drones
• Medical & Prosthetics
• Education
• Consumer Products
• Prototyping

EOS Selective Laser Sintering

We print all of our Versatile Plastic on EOS P770, P396, and P110 machines which are Laser Sintering Systems. The largest machine is able to print parts over half a meter in length.

Materials

Polyamide 12, PA 12 & Nylon 12

Colors

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Features

• Heatproof to 175C/350F
• Good Chemical Resistance
• Skin-Friendly
• Dishwasher Safe

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Technical Documents

Check out the Material Data Sheet and the Material Safety Data Sheet for Versatile Plastic.

Upload Your File

Ready to get started? Upload your file now for an instant quote.

Grow Your Business

Learn how you can utilize SLS technology to expand the manufacturing capabilities of your business.

Check out our Material of the Month series on Versatile Plastic:

Part One: Material Overview
Part Two: Voytek Medical Uses Versatile Plastic to Transform the Landscape of Healthcare
Part Three: How Strong and Flexible is Versatile Plastic?
Part Four: Top Questions Answered: Versatile Plastic

The post Material of the Month: Versatile Plastic appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Auto-Checks

Shapeways provides guidelines and auto-checks to ensure that your uploaded models are printable in each material. For example, models created at Shapeways in Versatile Plastic are 3D printed in a durable nylon material in large batches using an industrial Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printer. Versatile plastic has an intense post production process that includes extraction from powder and other models, cleaning and polishing, and even dying in different colors. Thin or narrow models can be easily broken or separated during post production. You can refer to the Design Guidelines for Versatile Plastic to determine how thin you can make the wires in your model. Here’s what those guidelines say about two success parameters, wall thickness and wire thickness:

In the guidelines above, “walls” are flat surfaces in your model and “wires” are more like strands. Notice that the recommended minimum for supported wires (those that connect to your model nearby on both ends) is 0.8mm. Processed models are put through a polisher, and Premium models are polished even more, so their minimum is higher: 0.9mm. Finally, the minimum for unsupported wires (which don’t inherit as much stability from the rest of the model) is even larger, at 1.0mm.

After you upload your model, Shapeways will perform a series of auto-checks to measure the thickness of walls and wires, among other things. If you click on “View 3D Tools” (or “View Issues”, if your uploaded model failed any checks) from within any Material view of your model, Shapeways will show you the results of these auto-checks. Here’s what that looked like for an early demo version of our Deltoidal Icositetrahedron model:

Although this model passed the Wire Thickness check, it fails the Wall Thickness check. The flattened nodes at the vertices, and even some of the long wires, are considered “walls” here, and they aren’t thick enough to get over the 0.7mm minimum thickness requirement.

Checking and Fixing Thickness Issues

You can check the thickness of your model in whatever design software you used to create it. Or, another easy way to determine the minimum thicknesses of your design is to import your model to Meshmixer and use the Thickness tool in the Analysis menu. You can then use Meshmixer to make your design thicker, if needed, by selecting the model and then using Edit > Extrude (using the Normal Direction) or Edit > Offset to expand your model outwards or inwards. To thicken only selected parts of your model, you can take the more targeted approach described in our previous article Tutorial Tuesday 50: Using Meshmixer to Make 3D Models Thick Enough to 3D Print.

Prototyping

Even if your model passes printability checks, it’s worth printing a demo model to make sure that everything is okay. Sometimes, weak geometry can’t be determined until a model is actually printed and in your hand. Even if the print comes out successfully, it may be too delicate to hold up to its intended use. After our example model failed printability checks, we redesigned it so that it would just barely pass the checks and print successfully. It was a beautiful model, but it wasn’t long before it broke and warped:

I guess the moral of this story is: For best results, don’t try to just *barely* meet the print requirements; rather, make sure you are safely above them.

It’s worth pointing out that the size of the model itself matters as much as the thickness; the two go hand-in-hand. In the image above, the smaller model has the same wire thickness but is actually quite sturdy. The larger model is weaker because the wires are longer and have to hold up to greater stress when the model is handled. This means when prototyping, you can’t always get an accurate impression of the strength of your model by shrinking your model down, or designing a smaller version. Think about it this way: a wireframe model the size of your head will need a larger wire thickness than a model the size of your pinky!

In the end, we decided to thicken up our Deltoidal Icositetrahedron model significantly. The final version looks like the blue model on the right in the image below. It’s much stronger, and the cost of printing was only increased by a few dollars.

Human Checks

Sometimes models pass the online checks at Shapeways, but then fail a secondary check when they are actually ordered for printing. That’s because actual human beings at Shapeways check your model manually while they prepare it for 3D printing. They check for things that require a lot more expertise than the automatic computer checks, like how large your model is, how the different pieces of it fit together, and a lot of things that you or I might not think of. If they notice a problem then they will email you, and try to suggest ways that you can modify your model to increase the likelihood that it will print successfully.

Keep in mind that the printing engineers at Shapeways want to make sure that your model can print correctly not just once, but over and over. A model that passes the auto-checks and listed guidelines may have weak areas that may not break on the first print, but are likely to break the second or third time. This means that even if your print comes out well in a “Print it Anyway” situation, it still might not be stable enough to offer as an item in the Marketplace. Variations in print stability can arise from small differences in the printing and finishing process, like how the models are packed or oriented in the machines, or how it interacts with other models in the polisher.

As an example, consider our Hoop Knot Earring:

According to the Design Guidelines for Silver, we needed to make the wires at least 1mm in diameter. However, it’s best to exceed that significantly; consider that Silver models from Shapeways are 3D printed in wax, cast in Silver using lost wax casting, and then finished and polished. All of those procedures could damage a model with weak geometry. When we uploaded our Hoop Knot Earring for printing, it passed all of the auto-checks. But when we tried to order a print of it in Silver, the kind and knowledgeable human engineers at Shapeways said that the geometry of our model was too weak. They suggested adding connectors and even emailed me this helpful illustration:

Of course, in this case I couldn’t add connectors since that would have ruined the design; instead I had to make the wires thicker to give the model more stability. That resulted in the print shown below on the right. Later I tried to make a larger version, shown on the left, but an interesting thing happened; since the wires had to travel further, they were more prone to bending and becoming misshapen when I opened and closed the earring. Even though the larger model had thicker wires, in the end it didn’t work as well as a functional item.

In the end, you’ll have to use a combination of your own design analysis, automatic printability checks, manual printability checks, and physical prototyping to successfully print delicate or geometrically complex models. If you’ve got your own tips and tricks that help you through this process, let us know!

The post 3D Printing Strong and Sturdy Models appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Cars, fighter jets, human stem cells – all made possible with a 3D printer? They’re just a few ways that 3D printing is already leaving its mark on different industries such as automotive, aerospace, and health care.

Created by Charles Hull in 1984 as a learning tool to test engineering designs, 3D printers had, up until a decade ago, been used primarily in prototyping in industrial settings.

Today, the technology has reached a new level of maturity and is moving beyond the limitations of its prototyping roots. As 3D printers gain popularity, they also become critical learning devices in the classroom, and through discounted 3D printing services like Shapeways EDU program. Useful for numerous STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, 3D printers transform ideas in a reality. Here’s how:

3D Printers and STEM Education Unite

Because 3D printers allow STEM students to make their ideas tangible, they benefit from a new level of engagement and applied learning. Instead of looking at ideas in two dimensions, students can look at all angles of their design to determine what works and what doesn’t. With 3D printers now established in many top engineering colleges, students are able to create, build and learn from their mistakes in a faster, more revolutionized way.

The ability to see virtually any design in 3D creates endless possibilities in the classroom. Not only are students learning concepts from a book, but also bringing these ideas to life by visualizing them in 3D. One such example: Medical students can study human ear diagrams in a textbook, and then examine a life-size replica in their own hands for a more hands-on perspective.

Our industry needs more adaptive problem solvers who can quickly identify a problem and then design new, innovative solutions for it. By using a 3D printer in the classroom, students can quickly sharpen these necessary problem-solving skills, evaluate their product and identify failure points. This printing technology has been known as “rapid prototyping” because it cuts the amount of time between design and prototype to days, sometimes even hours, depending on the project. Reinforcing this technology is critical in preparing our students for STEM careers.

3D Printing and Industry Applications

Using 3D printing technology in applied research is not only revolutionizing the education system, but all industries. Take the medical field, for example. With 3D printing, biomedical engineers can print living cells in a material that is used to reconstruct tissues in the body. The technology also allows medical students to print prototypes of the human heart or aortic valve, which could potentially reduce complications such as transcatheter replacement of the aortic valve in patients.

Many other institutions are already taking advantage of 3D printing. At NASA, for example, 3D printing is used to test alternative materials for improved aviation design like custom wings and rocket caps. The Smithsonian is also using the technology by digitizing many of its artifacts, including the skeleton of a T-Rex, to add a new historical perspective.

The creative freedom of 3D printing technology is transforming education inside and outside of the classroom. One day, students may be able to hold an ancient fossil in their hands without visiting a museum, or study a 3D replica of a human heart before it undergoes surgery – the possibilities are truly endless.

– Kyle Martin

The post The Intersection of STEM Education and 3D Printing appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Sifting through the array of models in Jin’s shop, it’s impossible not to let your imagination run a little wild, assisted by the fact that many of the designs are paired with an animation of the 3D modeled dinosaur in action (running, attacking – it’s all there). Due to my weakness for awkward-looking animals, the Carnotaurus model is my favorite – look at its tiny little arms! How does that dinosaur give hugs? Scratch its head? Do anything, basically?

Carnotaurus (Medium / Large size) by VITAMIN IMAGINATION

Obviously wanting to fangirl, I asked Jin lots of questions about his models for this Designer Spotlight, so without further ado:

What do you use to guide the dinosaur designs?
Because dinosaurs are extinct, restoring them in a scientifically accurate way is not an easy task. I collect not only the skeleton pictures of the dinosaurs I want to make, but also skeleton data of similar animals. In addition, since extinct dinosaurs are steadily studied, I review the latest academic information. If the collected scientific data and my imagination are in the wrong combination, we can create a strange monster so I review skeletal data of existing animals that are similar to the dinosaurs that I want to restore. The skin patterns of reptiles, for example, are extremely beneficial in guiding the creation of my dinosaur designs.

I use ZBrush for dinosaur-making, Rhino3D for product structure, and KeyShot for rendering. When I prepare a lot of materials, I make the dinosaurs with a ZBrush. In the middle, I get advice from a dinosaur researcher in South Korea. So I try to make nice designs of scientifically accurate dinosaurs.

Tyrannosaurus vs. Triceratops Skeleton by VITAMIN IMAGINATION

Your dinosaur designs are now incredibly complex and highly detailed. How long did it take you to master 3D design?
I have been studying ZBrush since 2011 and have been using it until now. In the beginning, my ability was a mess. Recent dinosaurs I have made are better in design and scientific knowledge than my past dinosaurs.

The dinosaurs I had studied and worked on for about two years were the first to receive praise. While I’m much more knowledgeable than when I first started, I continue to study, learn, and strive to improve my skills because there’s always room for growth.

Jin’s earliest Breeding Kit models

How long does it take to model each design?
Typically, I invest a week to design one dinosaur, but it’s a continuation of a long process of research, collecting data, and consulting experts. When the print has been completed, the work is post-processed with paint.

Ceratopsian small package by VITAMIN IMAGINATION

Check out Jin’s shop – it’s a very realistic-looking blast from the past (which is also what probably killed the dinosaurs, womp womp). There are also Jin’s adorably cartoonish baby dinos in the New Breeding Kit section, for all your cuteness needs.

Triceratops Head skull flower pot by VITAMIN IMAGINATION

The post Designer Spotlight: Jin Kyeom – VITAMIN-IMAGINATION appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

Experiments with MagicaVoxel software

We posed these questions to our community on the Shapeways forums and got some amazing responses. Here are some of these learnings that could serve as a great guide for others interested in starting their journey in digital manufacturing.

“I have always loved to draw with pencil and paper as a hobby. But I am a Mechanical Engineer and I started my professional career as a CATIA application engineer at IBM in 1992, and did that for more than 15 years. I had taken several CATIA training classes and spent many hours studying by myself. ” – Shapeways Shop owner Glehn

In the forums, our community has a range of backgrounds, from fine arts to science to engineering. Most reported learning the design software themselves from online tutorials and YouTube. They were creative prior to learning 3D design, and had begun their journey earlier with other hobbies like drawing and model building.

Many started learning before academic classes in 3D design were available. Personal digital manufacturing is still in its infancy and the educational infrastructure around it is still forming. Those who taught themselves are leading the charge to start educating the next generation of designers.

Most importantly, community members have learned to come to design with a creative, can-do mentality. By working on specific problems, like wanting to create a necklace or a robot, they’ve experimented with the tools at hand — and found solutions. Design always requires a combination of patience, problem-solving, and elbow grease. They’ve learned to value hard work, and that making something yourself pays off.

“My parents instilled in me the belief that it’s better if possible to craft something on your own than to buy it pre-built. 3d printing just gives me better construction tools” – Shapeways shop owner Stony Smith

How did you learn to 3D design? Did you learn in school or pick it up yourself? Let us know in the comments below.

The post D-School or Self-Taught: How did you learn to 3D design? appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

However, the fabrics and design processes themselves have more or less stayed the same for hundreds of years. Though men no longer wear bloomers and women now don jeans and t-shirts, the fashion industry still used the antiquated practices of sketching on paper and producing with traditional fabrics from the days of petticoats– until now. Now, we are at the precipice of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” a period characterized by rapid change in industry as a result of new physical, digital, and biological technology.

In this new era, even fashion is keeping up with futuristic methods of manufacturing and materials, leveraging 3D-printing technology to bring innovative designs and production processes to the fashion industry. Here at Shapeways, many of our education grant recipients have created “fashion of the future” and helped to revolutionize the industry as a whole.

Alexis Walsh, an education grant recipient from our inaugural class in 2014, was able make her ground-breaking designs a reality with the help of Shapeways’ funding and technology. Walsh used Shapeways 3D printing to create her LYSIS collection, a clothing line she designed for her senior thesis at Parsons The New School for Design. She 3D printed elements of her pieces– like the neckpiece featured below– in white nylon, then sanded, dyed, and finished the piece by hand. Her work demonstrates not only the capabilities of 3D-printing in fashion during 3D production itself, but also how this art can evolve in post-production and combine with traditional materials.

Since the beginning of the Shapeways education grant program in 2014, many more of our grant recipients have gone on to create innovative fashion designs that would not be possible without 3D-printing. In Spring of 2016, a team of grant recipients from Carnegie Mellon University, designed a clothing collection incorporating 3D parametric and geometric shapes, requiring Shapeways’ additive 3D printing technology. They manipulated our nylon materials in unique ways to create a fabric-like material for some pieces, and maintained the angular nature of the nylon for others.

3D printing isn’t just changing high couture, but also the clothing we wear every day. Matthew Flail and Timothy Ganter of Philadelphia University, grant recipients from Spring of 2015, have developed a way to make customizable athletic sneaker insoles using elastomeric filaments and 3D printing. After starting to create their products on desktop 3D-printers, they realized they needed Shapeways’ industrial-sized printers to scale up their business. Once they have perfected their custom insoles for mass production, they intend to use Shapeways 3D-printing to create fully customizable sneakers from heel to toe.

These Shapeways projects are just the beginning for the future of fashion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Universities all over the world are beginning to expand design curriculum with a focus on “Computational Fashion,” like MIT’s new minor in design, which includes lectures from Jessica Rosenkrantz, half of the duo Nervous System and designed the Kinematics Dress.

3D printing isn’t the only way the fashion industry is adapting to the future. With more research being put into biomaterials and wearable technology as a whole, from the FitBit bracelet to fabrics that can detect emotions, as well as advances in artificial intelligence, the fashion industry is sure to take the world by a storm, bringing Shapeways along for the ride.

Are you an undergraduate or grad student pushing the boundaries of 3D-printing technology? You could receive up to $1000 in Shapeways credit to realize the designs of your dreams through the Shapeways Education Grant program. Learn more about the Shapeways Education Grant and apply at https://www.shapeways.com/education.

The post Get Schooled: Featured Student Grant Recipients – Fashion appeared first on Shapeways Blog.

That’s why it’s exciting to be part of the 3rd annual National Week of Making (June 17-23). In his declaration President Obama states that “During National Week of Making, we recommit to sparking the creative confidence of all Americans and to giving them the skills, mentors, and resources they need to harness their passion and tackle some of our planet’s greatest challenges.” Our CEO Peter Weijmarshausen is at the White House for the Maker-to-Manufacturer Stakeholder event today to discuss the needs of makers looking to turn their ideas into full-time commitments. We’ll be sure to share notes from the event with our community once it concludes.

In direct response to the White House call to action for National Week of Making that encourages organizations to empower a nation of inventors and entrepreneurs by providing access to technology, Shapeways EDU and the The New York Public Library’s TechConnect Program announced a partnership to introduce creative minded patrons of the New York Public Library to the entrepreneurial side of 3D modeling and printing technology through a free, open-source curriculum. Among the many goals is to educate the public so they can further engage in the current digital era and become entrepreneurs of their own 3D creations. The collaboration will kick off in the fall with a pilot program offering multiple courses over a ten-week period.

Shapeways is also proud to have sponsored the Department of Education Career and Technical Education Makerspace Makeover Challenge contest. All participants of the contest, some 300 schools from all 50 states, participated in the bootcamp to learn the skills needed to have successful careers in the 21st century. The trophy was designed by Shapeways community member Ashley Zelinskie. In addition to the trophies we are also giving a 3D printing scholarship to one of the ten winning schools that has shown a commitment to 3D printing in education.

You can check out other projects and add to the celebration on social media with the tags #NationOfMakers and #WeekofMaking.

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