CHANGE IS ADDITIVE—A 3D Printing News Series by Fathom

Mass Customization and Direct Digital Manufacturing in Eyewear

Eyewear brand Aoyama Optical France has partnered with 3D printing software company Materialise to develop a mass customization 3D printing workflow for a new line of glasses. Customers can choose from 85 combinations of color, texture, style and size, which have all been certified to the highest standard of manufacturing in regards to tolerances and repeatability. The process relies on selective laser sintering technology to create the final product // Watch Video // Read More

UCSD Engineers Develop Self-Healing Magnetic Ink for 3D Printed Batteries, Circuits & Sensors

An engineering research team at UC-San Diego has created a 3D printable ink that can self-heal broken circuitry through magnetism. Per the initial report on the development, the team sees self-healing batteries, electromechanical sensors, wearable, textile-based electrical circuits as just a few of the potential applications for the neodymium- and carbon black-based ink / / Read More / / Watch Video

Verus Art Creates Fully Textured Reproductions of Famous Paintings with 3D Printing

Verus Art, a Georgia-based partnership between three companies, is creating full-texture replicas of famous artwork using 3D printing to capture exact brush strokes, shading and colors.

With extremely precise 3D scanning and tight 3D printing tolerances, the accuracy of the reproductions is remarkable / / Read More / / Watch Video

Researchers at Waikato University Transform Waste into 3D Printing Filament

Researchers at New Zealand-based Waikato University have developed a new method of recycling plastic waste into 3D printable filament. This method creates material that can be 3D printed with FDM technology. The implications of this kind of sustainable manufacturing practices are vast and have the potential to alter the global waste treatment cycle. Earlier this year, apparel giant Adidas employed similar methods in the production of a new line of sneakers / / Read More

SHoP Architects and Partners Create Giant 3D Printed Bamboo Pavilion for Design Miami

Design Miami, an international design conference taking place from November 30-December 4, will feature a massive 3D printed pavilion to greet visitors. SHoP Architects, the lead of the pavilion project, created the installation using 3D printing at a large scale in an effort to emulate the effect and stability of an ancient tree with gnarled roots // Read More

Engineer Uses 3D Printing to Repair His Own Heart

Engineer Tal Golesworthy, suffering from Marfan syndrome that erodes the elasticity of blood vessels, changed the course of his heart surgery by creating a 3D printed model of his heart and developing an advanced polymer-based sleeve to strengthen his aorta. Golesworthy, having made it through his surgery and now living successfully, may have set a precedent for 3D printing and patient involvement in health care / / Read More

3D Printed Modifications to PCs

The customization possibilities of 3D printing are endless. Many designers have focused on customized hardware housing for PCs, including the Aetos PC case pictured above / / Read More

Artichoke Lamp Shade

Inspired by the geometry of an artichoke, the lampshade pictured above is entirely 3D printable and available for download from Thingiverse / / Download