Jun 17, 2016 | By Max
Veronica Betancur Fernández, a graduate student of Fashion Design at University Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin, Colombia, completed the production of a 3D printed garment as the final project of her degree. In an interview with 3Ders, Betancur stated, “The project started with the desire to apply this technology to fashion design. I’m the first one in Colombia that printed a commercial garment.” The project, which spanned the course of four months, was sponsored by the Medellín-based company i3D, which specializes in the design and manufacturing of 3D printed technology. The final product was printed using a MakerBot 2X.
In the early stages of the project, Betancur experimented with ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PLA (PolyLactic Acid), and TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane). She describes ABS as being strong, and durable, while also easily molded once heat is applied. PLA is a biodegradable polyester, which is more resistant to molding. In the end, Betancur chose to work with FilaFlex, a commercial brand of TPU made by the company Recreus, because of the material’s flexible features.
The garment’s surface was designed in the Rhino 3D computer application, where it was modeled on a digitized form of a human body. Betancur notes that she took inspiration from nature in her design, using the grooved brain coral species as a reference when developing the clothing’s surface, which utilizes grooved channels to allow for flexibility and movement for the wearer.
The digital design was then 3D printed as geometric shapes which could be later pieced together using 3D printed filament. Betancur experimented with her design and materials by printing the pieces of her garment in different sizes, then testing the units at different scales for their quality and flexibility before arriving at her final design for the pieces. The individual geometric units that comprise the garment are held together by a threadlike string made of 3D printer filament that is more fine and flexible than the one used to produce the shapes. The final product is made of completely 3D printed materials.
Betancur hopes that the project helps people to realize the possibilities that 3D printing opens up in all sorts of design - not just fashion. She says it’s about the fact that people can achieve things they never imagined with 3D printing. In the future, more and more people will have access to 3D printers and make their own designs and concepts into a 3D printed reality. As Betancur puts it, “In every home a printer, and each can create their own garments.”
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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