3D printing has been the key to innovation in a variety of product lines, with Gabriel Boutin, the Canadian industrial designer, and Gabriel Boutin, founder of Syncro Design, a specialty design additive manufacturing firm, inspired by 3D printing and developing a series of 3D printed bicycle helmets.
The project, called Kupol, focuses on the design and manufacture of more comfortable bicycle helmets. Boutin's desire to get rid of uncomfortable polystyrene foam parts often causes helmets users to sweat underneath. Thanks to its patented 3D printed plastic construction , The new Kupol helmet keeps the air flowing and makes the head cool, and the entire helmet weighs less than a traditional helmet.
To achieve his goal, Boutin partnered with HP's Multi Jet Fusion technology to enable users to make plastic parts from HP MJF PA12 plastic, a more durable and chemical resistant material that can help direct from design to finished product Create.
The plastic is strong enough, which means it can withstand some impact but at the same time it is not too heavy and the material is not too expensive, making it suitable for prototyping and also for the production of finished products.
For Boutin, 3D printing offers a faster chance of going from prototype to finished product, and it allows users to develop more complex designs and structures.
As the quality of 3D printed materials continues to increase, more and more designers choose additive manufacturing to create finished products rather than long prototyping processes. In addition, 3D printing is continuously refined to allow users to create high-quality surfaces Look finish their product.
For his design, Boutin partnered with Sculpteo's 3D printing service, which offers HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, and the designer looked for a tough, chemically resistant plastic that could be ordered through Sculpteo's online 3D printing service and Select HP Multi Jet Fusion PA12 black plastic.
Sculpteo also offers a range of 3D printed finishes, including Smoothing Beautifier finishes and Color Resist and Color Touch finishes, if not black.