Consumer Products

The best 3D printed consumer products

3D printed consumer products have their own category in the2019 3D Printing Industry Awards

Be itInvisalign, i.e,3D printed clear bracesorBlamey Saunders’hearing aids,越来越多的消费品制造商turning to 3D printing. The technologyhas been integrated into many areas, not only to elevate the design of such products but to accelerate and optimizemass production

The following shows the latest 3D printed consumer goods across fashion, beauty, sports, music and automotive, each suitable fornomination the upcoming3D Printing Industry Awards。Or, you can select a 3D printed product that has yet to be highlighted.

Clear Aligners being 3D printed via SLA. Photo via Youtube/Align Technologies, Inc.
Clear Aligners being 3D printed via SLA. Photo via Youtube/Align Technologies, Inc.

Carbon and Riddell’sSpeedFlex Precision Diamond helmets

Earlier this year,Carbon, the Silicon Valley-based company behindDigital Light Synthesis(DLS) 3D printing technology, unveiled its latest system: theCarbon L1 printeras well as a partnership with American football equipment providerRiddell

As the first company to work with the L1 printer, Riddell is using the system to 3D printPrecision-Fitlinings for its SpeedFlex Precision Diamond helmet.

The helmet is designed to absorb impact and provide excellent comfort for the athlete, thus, each lattice, generated by the Carbon Lattice Engine, is made up of over 140,000 individual struts. Also, a full lining for the helmet is composed of seven individually 3D printed parts.

Select players of theNFL使用了里德尔SpeedFlex精密钻石赫尔姆ts during the 2018 season. The helmets are commercially available fromRiddellon a limited basis at the elite level from$409.99 (varsity) and $324.99 (youth)

The Riddell SpeedFlex Precision Diamond helmet lining with back-lit Precision-Fit lining. Image via Carbon
The Riddell SpeedFlex Precision Diamond helmet lining with back-lit Precision-Fit lining. Image via Carbon.

Also within sports, in November 2018,Callaway Golf Company, a golfing equipment manufacturer,signed a consultancy agreementwithGE Additive AddWorksto explore the potential of 3D printing for golfing equipment.

Brad Rice, Callaway Director, R&D Advanced Engineering, explained, “Callaway needs to learn how to use this tool [additive manufacturing] well, because it is inevitable that 3D printing of production parts is going to happen—it is the production method of the future.”

3D printed bicycle frames from Reynold

Last year,Reynolds, a UK manufacturer of bicycle frames and components, began usingmetal 3D printing technologyto develop a range of customizable stainless steel and titanium frame-parts. This is intended to streamline production processes for frame builders in the cycling industry.

For a quote on 3D printed brackets, dropouts, and custom frames, visit the company’s website.

3D-printed stainless-steel frame from British bicycle tubing specialists, Reynolds. Photo via Bikeradar/Jack Luke.
3D printed stainless-steel frame from Reynolds. Photo via Bikeradar/Jack Luke.

Chanel’s 3D printed mascara brush

In the fashion industry, last year,Chanel, began mass producing the3D printed Volume Révolution mascara brush, made in collaboration withErpro Group。Said to be the first of its kind, this brush was created using selective laser sintering (SLS), on industrial systems which produced up to 50,000 a day.

3D printing has allowed for microcavities in the core of the brush which holds a larger amount of mascara than previous brushes. Also, the brush’s individual strands feature a granular texture, increasing their surface area and the ability of the mascara to adhere to eyelashes.

At a cost of £28.00, the Volume Révolution mascara brush is available in 3 colors from Chanel and European beauty retailers such asBoots, andDebenhams

Le Volume Révolution mascara brush. Image via Chanel Parfums Beauté.
The Volume Révolution mascara brush. Image via Chanel Parfums Beauté.

Within bespoke accessories,Narbon, a Spanish 3D printing company, launched a service called3DMemories, which creates 3D printed ceramic jewelry with ashes from a loved one.

The customer is required to send a portion of ashes in an urn to Narbon’s lab in Madrid. Following this, they are mixed with a variety of materials, including porcelain, and then 3D printed into a piece of jewelry. The jewelry is then packaged and shipped back to the customer.

Design a custom ring, bracelet, emblem and morehere。The price of 3DMemories jewelry is disclosed upon the design request.

Ring, bracelet and necklace stones instilled with the ashes of loved ones. Image via Narbon/3DMemories
Ring, bracelet and necklace stones instilled with the ashes of loved ones. Image via Narbon/3DMemories

Formlabs and Gillette create custom 3D printed razor handles

In October 2018,Formlabs, a Boston 3D printer developer and manufacturer, partnered withGillette, the shaving supply and razor brand ofProcter and Gamble, to producecustom 3D printed razor handles

Through this project,the partners are aiming to give consumers razors that best suit their grooming preference, budget, look, color, and style.

TheRazor Makerhandles are available in 48 3D printed designs sorted into one of three different levels of 3D printing, i.e. partially printed ($19), fully printed ($25), or with a chrome effect ($45). Design and order them atRazor Maker: powered by Gillette.

A wave handle design from the Razor Maker™: powered by Gillette®line. Photo via Gillette/Business Wire
A wave handle design from the Razor Maker, powered by Gillette line. Photo via Gillette.

Additive manufacturing customizes cars with Mini Yours

MINI, a British automotive marque ofBMWlaunched a service early last year which uses 3D printers for the mass-customization of its cars. Using theMINI Yoursapp, customers can add names and symbols to inserts for their car’s side scuttles or dashboard trims.

The custom-designed components are then 3D printed on-demand by MINI and colored either in “Aspen White”, “Chili Red”, “Jet Black”, “Melting Silver” or “White Silver”. The custom service is available for current MINI 3-door, MINI 5-door, and the MINI convertible cars. In addition, all of the 3D printed parts can be installed by the customers.

MINI customers can personalize their car’s side scuttles and cockpit facia for €145.00, as well as the LED door sills at a cost of €290.00, and LED door projector for €119.00. Get started on the MINI Yours platformhere

MINI Yours was shortlisted for a2018 3D Printing Industry Award

MINI also integrated Belgian personalization software providerTwikit’s customization software to providemass customization services using 3D printing

MINI Yours Customised products designed by drivers, made by 3D printers. Image via MINI/BMW Group
MINI Yours Customised products designed by drivers, made by 3D printers. Image via MINI/BMW Group.

Carbon and Adidas running shoes

In 2017,Adidasannounced a partnership with Carbon for shoes with 3D printed midsoles called theFuturecraft 4D。Last year, the partnersunveiled theAlphaEDGE 4D LTD running shoesfeaturing the midsoles produced using Carbon’s DLS technology.

The Futurecraft 4D midsoles are made of UV-curable resin and polyurethane mixture, arranged in complex lattice structures.An initial batch of shoes with the Futurecraft 4D midsoles was available from $300. A further 5,000 pairs were released later in the year, by which time second-handprices exceeded $20,000

Following this, last month,Adidas unveiled a new iteration of itsY-3 4D Runner, also made in collaboration with Carbon. The latest Y-3 4D Runner is available from£449.00 on theAdidas Y-3 store

The Y-3 RUNNER 4D. Photo via Adidas.
The Y-3 RUNNER 4D. Photo via Adidas.

Similarly,ReebokandBASFteamed up to create its first line shoes known as the Liquid Factory. In 2016, a limited run of 300 shoes with 3D printed outsoles was released at $189.50. The shoes were reportedly sold out in a matter of hours. Last year, thepartners announced the production of the shoes。The price of the latest Liquid Factory show is yet to be disclosed.

The black/white model of Reebok’s new 3D printed shoes. Photo via Reebok.

Staying on footwear, Canadian custom footwear manufacturerWiivv, andDr. Scholl’s, a foot care brand owned by the pharmaceutical companyBayer, partnered last month to createcustomized 3D printed insoles

Currently, the soles are available in full length and three-quarter sizes. Both sizes are nowavailable to buyfor $99

Wiivv insoles. Photo via Wiivv.
Wiivv 3D printed insoles. Photo via Wiivv.

3D printed biodegradable stationery

Last month,Batch.Works, a London-based 3D printing service bureau, debuted its collaboration with international stationery storePaperchaseto create a collection of 3D printed biodegradable paperclips, pen pots, and ballpoint pens. This selection of stationery is made from bioplastic and included in Paperchase’s Conscious Living collection.

Batch.Works additively manufactured 30,000 pieces of stationery within two months withUltimaker 3D printers, then used anEpilog Lasersystem to engrave text on the parts.

Purchase the 3D printed pens from £3.00, 3D printed paper clips at £0.80, and a 3D printed 3-tray pen pot set for £15.00 fromPaperchasenow.

3D printed biodegradable pens for Paperchase. Photo via Batch.Works.
3D printed biodegradable pens for Paperchase. Photo via Batch.Works.

3D printed eye-wear

Recently,MOREL, a French eyewear brand, andINITIAL, a Seynod-based 3D printing service bureau, unveiled a range of glasses with3D printed frames

This line of eyewear is made in three different models usingpolyamide-based nylon and SLS. The side arms are made of a titanium alloy known as beta-titanium, one of the most common materials used in orthodontics. The glasses weigh 10g.

The glasses are presented in three different colors: Blue, Burgundy, and Black. The price is yet to be disclosed.

MOREL and INITIAL 3D printed glasses. Animation via MOREL
MOREL and INITIAL 3D printed glasses. Animation via MOREL.

3D printed violins

For the musicians,3Dvarius, a French manufacturer of 3D printed instruments, released its range of 4 and 5 string violins in October 2018, calledThe Line。小提琴是使用stereolithograp 3 d印刷hy (SLA) and are available for purchase from €1149.00.

3D printed e-commerce service & showerheads

In April 2018,Voodoo Manufacturing, a New York-based 3D printing bureau, launched a new service,Fulfilled by Voodoo(FBV). This service connects directly to e-commerce storefronts in order for businesses to outsource all aspects of manufacturing, including 3D printing, assembly, and shipping.

Through FBV,Zooheads, a brand of Voodoo Manufacturing, is selling its 3D printed animal shower-heads. These shower-heads are 3D printed using FFF in a variety of colors from an eco-friendly PLA in 24-hours.

Purchase a shower-head from $29.95here。Also, use theFulfilled by Voodooon-demand servicehere

A 3D printed shower-head. Photo via Zooheads.
A 3D printed shower-head. Photo via Zooheads.

Don’t forget to nominations for the “Consumer product of the year” as well as other categories for the2019 3D Printing Industry Awards

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Featured image shows Clear Aligners being 3D printed via SLA. Photo via Youtube/Align Technologies, Inc.