, , ,

See how Reebok Canada is using 3D Printing and Scanning in their Zig advertising efforts

3D Printing in the retail space is nothing new, but we continue to see innovation in the footwear space, and how 3D Printing continues across more than just product design and development divisions.

At the forefront of the footwear industry, Adidas has been using 3D printing for years now and has even released shoes like The 4D run using cutting edge 3D printed midsoles. Nowadays brands like Reebok are utilizing advancements in full-color 3D Printing for promotional, marketing, and advertising material outside of just the product development stages.

video by @duaneshootstoys

Objex Unlimited was fortunate enough to work on this project for Reebok Canada to re-create miniature mockups of the release of The Zig for their recent viral Tik Tok campaign seen below:

video by @duaneshootstoys

The team at Reebok came to Objex Unlimited with a pair of “Zig’s”, and a concept of creating a miniature pair for their social influencers’ upcoming video campaign. They provided a few image examples and creative freedom on making it happen, and within a few weeks, we were able to deliver just that. A fresh pair of 3D Printed mini-kicks.

Here is the original Zig reference by Reebok:

You can purchase The Zig here

  The process looked something like this:

THE SHOE

  • Since access to the CAD file was not readily available in time for their campaign we needed to create a 3D file from scratch. So we whipped up the digital asset to kick off the project. 3D scanning took place within a couple of minutes of having full access to the physical shoe. Our team was able to utilize our in-house Artec Eva and render up a 3D CAD file within a few hours. You can see the scan images below to get a better understanding of the data captured.  
  • Geometry was created using several stitched together scans 
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
    Geometry was created using several stitched together scans 
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
  • 3D Scanning of Shoe in Toronto
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
    Using the Artec Eva we were able to capture a very details scan of the shoe.
  • The texture was also captured during the initial scan output and processed using Artec Studio 
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
    Using the Artec Eva we were able to capture a very detailed scan of the shoe.
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
  • 3D Scan of The Zig
  • Following scan capture, we ran a couple of test prints from the raw processed scan to see the quality of the original texture captured and its translation over to our new Mimaki 3D Printer. The results were pretty good but not quite perfect.
  • This file was then brought into Zbrush where our team of digital sculptors cleaned up any imperfections in the geometry and added additional touchups to the model. Due to low light conditions during the scanning process, the vibrance of The Zig was not quite perfect. Our sculptors added additional saturation to the shoes’ orange hues, soles area, and logos to give that extra pop of colour.
  • Our production team then reran the models on both the Mimaki 3duj-553 and the 3D Systems Project 660 to compare outputs and evaluate finishing options.

THE BOX

The second portion of the project consisted of a matching box to accommodate the pair of shoes. We produced a few variations in both traditional 2D and also 3D printing. Using the original box as a reference our sculpting team was able to replicate the design and graphics in zbrush for 3D production. You can see the final output below.

, , ,

FabPro 1000 | Grow with 3D Systems Entry-Level 3D Printing to Production

Learn More About Pre-Ordering

Q & A with President and CEO Vyomesh Joshi (VJ) on the New FabPro 1000

Source: 3D Systems

Following 3D Systems’ announcement of FabPro™ 1000, there has been a steady flow of interest around our take on industrial entry-level 3D printing: where FabPro fits into an additive manufacturing workflow, why we are investing in entry-level solutions, and how 3D Systems’ printer measures up to competing systems on the market. Eager to answer your questions, 3D Systems President and CEO VJ shares his view of the opportunities available through entry-level industrial printing with the new FabPro 1000.

3D Systems FabPro 1000 Desktop 3D printer thumbnail

The FabPro delivers parts that are on par with production level machines in terms of accuracy, quality and repeatability.

Q: HOW IS FABPRO™ 1000 DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ENTRY-LEVEL 3D PRINTERS ON THE MARKET?

VJ: The FabPro is distinct in several ways, but the most important distinction is the parts it prints. The parts are what matters at the end of the day, right? The combination of our printer and materials ensures part quality, repeatability and durability, so that’s the first key distinction. And of course, very closely related to part quality is part accuracy. The FabPro delivers better, more accurate parts than any other product at its price point and produces parts that are on par with production level machines in terms of accuracy, quality and repeatability.

The second differentiation is speed and productivity. FabPro is up to three times faster than competitively priced systems, which will help to make our customers more efficient and accelerate their time to market. Think about it: if it takes a competing system 9 hours to print apart but it takes our system just 3 hours to print a part with the exact same parameters, full days can be removed from product timelines. That’s a tremendous competitive advantage.

Finally, the FabPro is a complete, plug and play solution that includes rigorously tested, high-quality materials and an intuitive, optimized software experience with 3D Sprint.

BEYOND AFFORDABILITY, WHAT MAKES THIS AN ENTRY-LEVEL 3D PRINTER?

We want to help customers go from a CAD file to design verification or functional prototyping without jumping through hoops or needing extensive training, so we’ve made it very easy to use. Like our other professional quality printers, FabPro comes with 3D Sprint software for file preparation and print management. This gives users access to tools that help them optimize support structures and builds to reduce waste and also provides visibility into material usage. This combination of the fast print speeds I mentioned earlier and optimized printing delivers lower costs to our customers so they can continue to enjoy low operating costs after the initial purchase.

THE 3D SYSTEMS MISSION IS TO HELP MAKE 3D PRODUCTION REAL FOR CUSTOMERS. HOW DOES AN ENTRY-LEVEL INDUSTRIAL PRINTER FIT INTO THIS STRATEGY?

In order to make 3D production real for our customers, we need to make good quality and easy-to-use additive manufacturing solutions more accessible and affordable to help a wider audience adopt and benefit from the technology. In terms of how the FabPro does this, I will answer in two parts. The first half of my answer takes a look at the product itself. If you think about the product category – an industrial entry-level printer – it plays a very important role in making 3D production real. The FabPro 1000 is a solution with entry-level affordability that comes with industrial material capability and a significant speed advantage over other printers in its class.  It also comes with 3D Sprint software to streamline the plastic additive manufacturing workflow, making it a complete solution. That means FabPro offers an opportunity for people to get hands-on with 3D technology for meaningful applications such as functional prototyping. Offering a low-barrier, quality experience that combines the right materials, the right hardware and the right software to compress product lifecycles reinforces how 3D Systems’ additive manufacturing solutions can help companies reduce design cycle time and develop complex custom parts not possible with traditional manufacturing processes.

The second half of my answer considers our customers globally, and the different price-performance capabilities and needs that exist worldwide. As a global company, 3D Systems works to serve all markets, including emerging geographies where an entry-level industrial printer like FabPro 1000 offers an optimal price-performance ratio with considerable benefits to the customer.

FabPro JewelCast GRN castable plastic ring master

FabPro casting material enables users to achieve final metal parts with entry-level affordability.

 WHO DO YOU ANTICIPATE WILL BE FIRST ADOPTERS OF THIS MACHINE AND WHY?

I think the global designer community will be among the first to really understand and get excited about the capability being offered, but designers are not the only ones in need of an affordable yet professional-quality 3D printing solution. I think you have to consider other professions where the total package of benefits provided by the FabPro 1000 will make a difference. The combination of the materials we offer plus the high throughput and accuracy of the printer speaks to a wide range of users. If you need high durability functional prototypes, FabPro can do it; if you need high contrast material for prototyping intricate details, FabPro can do it. We also offer a casting material that will enable users to achieve final metal parts with entry-level affordability. This alone has the potential to transform verticals such as jewellery. I believe FabPro will complement and advance workflows across industries, and I am excited to see what our customers do with it!

Learn More About Pre-Ordering

, , , ,

Markforged Announces Onyx – Their most advanced material yet

Markforged announced today the immediate release of Onyx–the most advanced material for Markforged yet–available to all Mark Two Enterprise users. The Onyx material is made up of chopped carbon, and is the first alternative to the base Nylon material. Before all users needed to print with Nylon and reinforce with one of the four fiber materials (Carbon Fiber, Kevlar, Fiberglass, and High-Strength High Temperature Fiberglass). Now users have the choice to print in either Nylon or Onyx and reinforce either with continuous fiber filament (CFF).

The new Nylon material delivers high-performance, finished parts:

  • Embedded carbon enhances performance: Dispersed micro-fibers drive excellent rigidity, dimensional stability, and environmental resistance in parts for rugged use.
  • Cut post-processing out of your process: Onyx parts can be used right off the build plate.
  • Remarkable surface quality: Onyx delivers a stunning matte black finish.

“After hundreds of broken beams and countless reformulations, we’ve created a new material that raises the standard for strength and accuracy,” remarked Markforged’s Chief Scientist Tony Gozdz, “Onyx has more than three times the stiffness of ordinary nylons, and with a heat deflection temperature of 145C, Onyx is perfectly suited for vehicles, machinery, and automation equipment.”

1448-wf-cb133196-b187-4d24-85d4-ca83a3bb38d8-17


Onyx’s dispersed micro-fiber is fully compatible with Markforged’s suite of continuous carbon, Kevlar, and glass fibers – both Onyx nylon and Markforged Standard nylon can achieve part strength comparable with metal.

Here’s what people have been saying:

Revolutionary Material

“Now, all of a sudden, you can get great engineering materials, with the properties that you would want in finished products, and that’s really going to be a game changer,” said Carl Bass, Autodesk Chief Executive (and well-known workshop addict). Mr. Bass was the first person to get his hands on Onyx, and immediately put it to use developing parts for his autonomous go-kart.

Industrial Strength

“The new material from Markforged is a critical component of our design process. This material allows us to turn a prototype into a functional part in hours. While the majority of conventional polymers cannot survive as a production part in our manufacturing environment, this new material is thriving. Markforged has developed a material that takes additive manufacturing one step further,” said Rodney Everett, Automation Technician at Dixon Valve Company, a worldwide leader in couplings and fittings.

1448-wf-44d80544-45ad-4bc7-b4ef-a71cdf017453-26

Finished Products

“It’s a stiffer material, the edges are true…parts look better and they fit together better. I think we’re going to never look back with this new material… it’s helping us make parts that are direct sale to market,” declared Alan Rencher of Media Blackout, a specialist in customized professional video equipment.

Battle Tested

“This material is fantastic… my team and I are impressed,” said Jamison Go of fighting robot Team SawBlaze. “The dragon head functions as a protective cover and aesthetic. We expect this part to take a lot of abuse, which attests to the confidence we have in this material.”

Team SawBlaze and Team Overhaul, each sporting Onyx and other Markforged reinforced parts in their massive combat robots, will be appearing in televised competition.

Onyx is available on Markforged’s Mark Two Enterprise Kit. The Enterprise Kit includes:

  • A wear-resistant print head that enables the 3D printing of advanced new materials such as Onyx and High-Strength, High-Temperature Fiberglass
  • Software features such as single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and an organizational admin portal
  • Early access to future materials

724-wf-f3fddd1d-a9ee-4f26-b94e-284ac96a77cd-23

About Markforged

Markforged’s mission is to bring high strength 3D printing to everyday engineering. Offering the world’s only 3D printing systems capable of automatically reinforcing engineering plastics to aluminum levels of performance and beyond, Markforged enables every business to easily manufacture parts with structural strength right on the desktop. The Mark Two 3D Printer empowers professional users to affordably create workhorse 3D parts that solve real problems, as well as realize reinforced structures never before possible. Markforged technologies are delivered with thoughtful, powerful software designed for collaboration, sharing, and scaling. For more information, visit https://www.Markforged.com (https://www.markforged.com/).

About Objex Unlimited

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We’re leading the 3D printing revolution to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes.  Authorized resellers of 3D Systems, Artec, Markforged and LMI Technologies.

, ,

Art by Oliver Pauk brought to life with 3D Design and Printing

Here’s another great example of using 3D Design and 3D Print to turn imagination into real life!

Not long ago, an artist by the name of Oliver Pauk visited a 3D Printing talk by Steve Cory, President of Objex Unlimited. He started asking questions and eventually visited the offices here to see the different printers on-site, and started to realize how the different technologies could help him develop his art. The piece eventually created was part of Oliver Pauk’s Objects collection, which can be seen here: www.oliverpauk.com/objects/.

Oliver Pauk - Objects Collection

Oliver Pauk – Objects Collection

 

Oliver Pauk was experienced creating 3D Designs in photoshop and wanted to make his file printable. It was determined that the best technology for the job was Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printing, which uses a laser and a plastic based liquid resin, optimal for extremely fine detail at a comparably high strength. As SLA is not a colour printing technology, the colours were applied to the model using Hydrodipping. The process involves taking a non-porous plastic, placing a coloured film across a the surface of a vat of water, and then dipping the object into the vat as the colour transfer wraps around the object.

The results are absolutely amazing!

Check out more of Oliver Pauk’s artwork from the same collection in the link below!

 

http://www.oliverpauk.com/objects/6a53vnn6214ifzimrs1rxvz935ii1j

 

Printed on ProJet 6000 HD

The ProJet 6000 HD offers three choices of print resolution, a choice of 6 VisiJet SL materials including the VisiJet SL Flex and Jewel. The material used for this particular project was VisiJet SL Black, ideal for ABS-like look and feel, high strength and good dimensional stability. Normally used for automotive and consumer goods prototyping and Ideal for electronics housing.

The ProJet 6000 range delivers up to 10 x 10 x 10 inch (250 x 250 x 250 mm) net build volume.

With options for high-definition, ultra high-definition and extra high-definition printing resolutions, you are guaranteed to print nothing that’s less than exceptional.

 

***

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a full-service 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We’re leading the 3D printing revolution to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes.  Authorized resellers of 3D Systems, Artec, Markforged and LMI Technologies.

, ,

3D Printed Pixel People! Perfect example of 3D Marketing Materials

Objex Unlimited recently had the opportunity to work with Conch & Media Creative Agency on developing some 3D Marketing Materials for a Campaign released by H&R Block.

The 3D Printed Pixel People campaign is an outstanding example of using 3D Design and 3D Printing to promote your brand in an exciting and novel fashion. See the awesome video below of the final product or check it out on Conch & Media’s Instagram.

The 3D Printed Pixel People were created using MagicaVoxel, and the printed on a 3D Systems ProJet 660Pro Full-Colour 3D Printer. The printer is excellent for creating colour displays, prototypes, showing abstract products, and product demonstrations.

3D Printed Pixel People 2

 

 

 

Printed on a 3D Systems ProJet 660Pro

 

The ProJet 660Pro

***

Objex Unlimited 3D Printing Studio is a full-service 3D solutions provider and 3D product reseller specializing in3D Printing, 3D Scanning, 3D Design and 3D Services. We’re leading the 3D printing revolution to explore, develop, and commercialize new applications in 3D. Leveraging unparalleled expertise in 3D technologies, we work with you personally to find a product or solution that will save you time, effort, and money. We will bring your ideas and designs to life by creating working parts, beautiful full-colour models, and rapid prototypes.  Authorized resellers of 3D Systems, Artec, MarkForged and LMI Technologies.