3D printing company Carbon said that the ability to 3D print a complex and diverse array of elastomeric materials will make it capable of influencing and even subverting the slow-growing foam industry, which means that although the foam is still a lot of comfort and security And performance products, Carbon believes its custom 3D printing grid will provide new opportunities in these three areas.
Carbon, known for its CLIP 3D printing technology, has come up with a new lattice solution that automatically generates lattice structures based on the needs of users. More specifically, using Carbon's software, users can simply enter the part's Design constraints (such as weight and size) and the mechanical response they require, and the program will be adapted to meet the specific requirements of the lattice structure and materials.
As the company explains: 'The Carbon solution eliminates speculation in the design process by leveraging our exhaustive lattice library in which each unique combination of lattice parameters is combined with the base material to form a suitable simulation machine Unique metamaterial for response. '
Lattice software is also capable of generating features with different lattice structures, which means that if different densities or mechanical properties are required in a single part, this is done.
The company said that this ability may change the game's impact on the area (eg, upholstered chairs or head restraints) that currently rely on foam for comfort; safety (helmet); and improved performance (sports equipment or sneakers).
Nine Examples of Carbon Lattice Structures with Adjustable Load-Compression Compared to Linear Load-Foam Compression
Carbon, in terms of comfort, said that although foam is widely used in the market, it has certain design limitations due to the linear increase in the compressive force applied to the material, or in the case of a closed-cell elastomer foam developed to overcome this challenge , The material is not breathable, causing discomfort in other areas.
However, the 3D printed mesh structure offers the benefits of breathability (because they are open structures) and can actually improve comfort through 'adjustable load-compression profiles.' By changing the lattice composition and where Made of metamaterials, designers can create a wide range of comfort profiles for different applications.
Carbon said that in comfort, its 3D printed plaques replace foam in devices such as headphones, seats, headphones and even orthopedic pads.
Currently, EPS foam is used to absorb impacts, protect people such as helmets and car seats, etc. Carbon claims that its adjustable 3D printed grates can bring the same (if not better) impact absorption, while designing Aspects also provide advantages.
The company said: 'Traditionally, safety products required the expensive assembly of multiple foam components to create different functional performance areas in a single product. Using Carbon's adjustable lattice solutions, designers now have access to the same The material creates an integral part made from a single part and provides several functional performance areas.
In addition to providing better safety features for impact-absorbing components, Carbon's 3D printed plaques can be customized, which means that players such as athletes can be protected with custom helmets or gaskets to further enhance their effectiveness.
'Performance' includes things like sports equipment and running shoes, and as far as we know, Carbon has partnered with sportswear brand Adidas to put its innovative 3D-printed Futurecraft 4D shoes in mass production.
Carbon said its 3D printed elastic grid could replace the EVA foam that is typically used to make sneakers, as it provides the necessary support for the wearer.
Carbon said: 'With the introduction of Futurecraft 4D, Carbon and Adidas shoes functional performance to a new level of shoes in the midsole provides precise adjustment of the functional area in the heel and the front midsole has a different grid Structure to meet the different buffering needs of these feet while running. '
Adidas Futurecraft 4D sneakers
From the company's report on its technology, its 3D printable lattice structure looks like the multi-functional competition of foam, but one of its drawbacks is that its technology has not been widely adopted, as the company has explained Lattice manufacturing solutions currently only work with Carbon technology partners.