Dec 20, 2014
Beginning December 12, 3D Systems' innovative examples of 3D printed desgin are featured in the newly reopened Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Founded in 1897, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is the only museum in the country devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. The museum possesses one of the most diverse and comprehensive collections of design works in existence, holdings total more than 210,000 objects.
In the new hands-on Process Lab visitors can see a production-grade stereolithography 3D printer, the ProJet 6000, as well as 3D-printed products and prototypes that show a cross section of how 3D printing is changing the way designers prototype and produce their work. Pieces from 3DS on view include a custom-made prosthetic limb, a stunning 3D printed acoustic guitar, and a complex skateboard design that demonstrates topology optimization. Visitors can also view a see-through Touch 3D haptic stylus, which allows designers to physically feel their designs on-screen as if working with digital clay.
Beautiful Users exhibitions in the recently renovated Carnegie Mansion, an exhibition that explores the ways in which designers over the past half-century have worked to suit their creations to human anatomy and behavior, features a hybrid robotic exoskeleton 3DS developed in collaboration with Ekso Bionics which enabled a paralyzed woman to walk.
The ribbon cutting ceremony at Cooper Hewitt's opening in December 12 featured a pair of oversized scissors 3D printed by 3DS, reinforcing the critical and evolving role that 3D printing has in the design to manufacturing process. This pair of scissors was 3D-scanned, -modeled and -printed by the 3DS team to add a modern twist to the longstanding tradition of the ceremony.
3D Systems unveiled the design and printing process of the larger-than-life scissors yesterday. The scissors were designed to be fully functional. 3DS designers began by 3D scanning scissors with Sense 3D scanner. They used the scan as the guide to create a "blank canvas" base shape, and cut away at the scissors to create an elegant shape mimicking an algorithmic model.
The files were then printed on a ProJet 6000 SLA Printer, the same type of printer that is on display in the Cooper Hewitt Process Lab. Once the print was complete, the scissor pieces were sanded and cleaned, and then a thick layer of nickel was applied to the print using an electro-plating process. Afterwards they were polished to a mirror finish before being sharpened and assembled.
All images credit: 3D Systems
"The scissors dazzled those present and the 3DS team was thrilled to contribute flair, beauty and intrigue to the ceremony. In fact, the scissors were such a hit that discussions are underway to determine if the scissors should now become part of Cooper Hewitt's collection." notes 3DS team.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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