Jun 1, 2016 | By Alec
It must be a very busy time over at the ASUS HQ in Taiwan, if the company’s innovation line-up at Computex 2016 in Taipei is anything to go by. At the ongoing event, which is open to the public until the end of the week, ASUS is showcasing a very wide range of hardware innovations. There, visitors can drool over their latest X99 Series and ASUS TUF Sabertooth motherboards, as well as numerous gorgeous monitors, displays and other (wireless) accessories. The most remarkable of all the innovations is their ASUS 3D Printing Project: a customization opportunity that will let gamers put a personal stamp on their rigs through personalized name plates, logos and a lot more.
With this project, ASUS is trying to appeal to the hardcore gaming community, where DIY PC construction is increasingly popular. And as ASUS argued, they believe this is a fantastic trend. “ASUS welcomes a new era of PC customization by being the first motherboard brand to support 3D-printable parts, an initiative that allows hobbyists, enthusiasts and modders to add unique modifications to their [PCs],” they added.
For now, however, the project seems to be quite limited in its setup. Only support for a handful of the newest ASUS motherboards is currently provided, as they feature easily swappable parts. This will enable passionate builders to design, share and 3D print their own replacement name plates, logos and other accessories in any color their desire. If you spend all that time and money on perfecting your PC setup, you might as well make it your own with a unique 3D printed touch.
To showcase this fun concept, Computex visitors will be able to view several fantastic examples. On display are stunning modifications of the ROG Strix X99 Gaming, ROG Rampage V Edition 10, X99-DELUXE II and TUF Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1 motherboards, all created by the ASUS Design Center team. “Designed to showcase the amazing possibilities presented by this innovative 3D printing project, these motherboards have been customized with parts printed on professional-grade 3D printers,” ASUS says.
All parts look fantastic, thanks to a careful sandblasting and polishing finish. Each board also clearly has a unique theme and makes the most of 3D printing with personalized nameplates, GPU holders, chassis fan holders, DRAM fan covers, and even custom cable management kits. Clearly, a wide range of possibilities are open to the dedicated user, but the final quality will certainly depend on your choice of 3D printer. One ASUS fan even gave a feminine touch to her X99-Deluxe II, with an elegant white and pink case and a floral motif. Any color scheme – even camo – can be realized and will turn a practical PC into a work of art.
At least, that’s the idea. Some of the 3D printed parts still look a bit basic or have been crudely glued into place. But ASUS has already said that they are looking to expand this project to include all future boards and offer a wider range of 3D printed customization options. With a clever attachment system, this could really become a fantastic and accessible initiative. With 3D printed graphics card and chassis fan holders, this could even become a practical solution for DIY PC builders.
Photos: Hardware Zone.
While it will doubtlessly remain a niche initiative for now, the ASUS 3D Printing Project shows exactly what 3D printing can bring to customization efforts. With the desire for uniqueness and customization increasing constantly, this could be the first step towards fully customized PC services. If you’re interested in their existing customized logos and name plates, you can download the 3D printable files here. All should be easily 3D printed at home, though you’ll have to rely on your own ingenuity to install them.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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