It’s protected to say that the 2 hottest 3D printing processes in use as we speak are Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and resin printing. The latter time period encompasses a number of completely different methods that make the most of vats of photosensitive resin, the most typical being MSLA (Masked Stereolithography). However what if you happen to might mix FDM and resin printing to get one of the best of each worlds? What might you make? Excessive-tech designer Anouk Wipprecht used such a way to manufacture this eye-catching illuminated costume in collaboration with Chromatic 3D Supplies.
The 3D printing course of utilized by Wipprecht is named Reactive Deposition Modeling (RDM). An RDM 3D printer strikes like an FDM printer, however extrudes a particular viscous resin as an alternative of molten thermoplastic filament. The RDM printer then instantly cures the extruded resin earlier than it may possibly ooze or deform.
Wipprecht partnered with Chromatic 3D Supplies to make the most of their ChromaFlow 70 polyurethane resin, which is robust, versatile, and out there in semi-translucent colours. That was key to the design of this costume, as a result of the illumination comes from giant 3D-printed studs that cowl the costume. These wanted to be versatile sufficient for a costume and wanted to diffuse the sunshine. The RDM printing course of was integral, as a result of it let Wipprecht print immediately onto the underlying cloth and to pause the prints with the intention to place the digital elements.
These elements included an Arduino UNO R4 board, an Arduino Nano, proximity sensors, and Adafruit Flora RGB NeoPixel V2 LEDs. The proximity sensors let the costume reply to the motion of the wearer. The costume has virtually 75 of the LED pods to provide participating results.
This costume will probably be out there for viewing at Frankfurt, Germany’s upcoming Formnext occasion, which can run from November seventh to November tenth. You may see it on the Chromatic 3D Supplies sales space, situated in Corridor 12.1, E110.
We’re impressed by Wipprecht’s costume design, however we additionally discover the RDM 3D printing course of and the ChromaFlow resin very intriguing. It has huge potential, even exterior of e-textiles, and we’re excited to see how individuals use it.