3D Printing – print 3D prototypes
3D printing is a process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file. The creation of a 3D printed object begins with making a virtual design using a 3D modelling program to create a new object or a 3D scanner to copy an existing object. Once the object is ready for printing the software associated with the 3D printer slices the final model into hundreds or thousands of horizontal layers. The 3D printer reads every slice and proceeds to create the object by blending each layer together with no sign of layering visible, resulting in one three dimensional object.
Different Types
Not all 3D printers use the same technology. There are different formats on the market including SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling or SLA (Stereolithography).
3D Printing within the Shoe Industry
The shoe industry is a global market that is increasing using the advances of 3D printing to streamline line its development including design/concept prototyping or sole and heel modelling. Using software such as Shoemaster Creative will allow a shoe designer to experiment with 3D virtual model concepts which can be fully printed using a 3D printer.