Glass 3D Printing 2 (G3DP 2) enables an entirely unique means of digital design and fabrication with glass. It is a high fidelity, large-scale, additive manufacturing technology for 3D printing optically transparent glass structures at architectural dimensions.
This novel additive-manufacturing platform includes a digitally integrated thermal control system to accompany the various stages of glass forming. It also includes a novel 4-axis motion control system permitting flow control, spatial accuracy and precision, and faster production rates with continuous deposition of up to 30kg of molten glass.
3D Printing Glass
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Ancient yet modern, enclosing yet invisible, glass was first created in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt 4,500 years ago. Glass can be molded, formed, blown, plated or sintered; its formal qualities are closely tied to techniques used for its formation.
From the discovery of core-forming process for bead-making in ancient Egypt, through the invention of the metal blow pipe during Roman times, to the modern industrial Pilkington process for making large-scale flat glass; each new breakthrough in glass technology occurred as a result of prolonged experimentation and ingenuity, and has given rise to a new universe of possibilities for uses of the material.
The computational methodology used by G3DP2 is designed to interact intelligently with the constraints of the manufacturing with glass. A wide range of shapes determined by desired mechanical and optical properties can be printed through feedback-enabled control systems.
Internal temperatures and feed rate are precisely regulated in order to ensure the precise deposition and cooling rate of molten glass that enables not only the high-fidelity realization of designed geometries, but the preservation of optical transparency and superior strength.
Researchers at the University of Freiburg have worked with colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley to come up with a novel means of rapidly 3D printing complex glass parts at a microscopic scale.
Though many 3D printing processes rely on serial deposition, one alternative that does exist is Computed Axial Lithography (CAL). Rather than build up objects in layers, CAL polymerizes light-sensitive resins into 3D structures by exposing them to iteratively optimized projections, which in turn, cause them to hit a threshold at which their entire volume hardens simultaneously in a precursor material.
In order to assess the potential of CAL for producing glass structures at a microscale, the researchers have built their own Micro-CAL system. Equipped with a laser light source combined with a low numerical aperture optical fiber, the prototype has proven capable of demagnifying the light pattern emitted by a digital micromirror device across several tests.
In these experiments, the scientists polymerized a nanoparticle-loaded material inside a nanocomposite resin, which served to suitably support the build, before it was removed and reused in the creation of further objects. Once ready, the resulting green parts were then debinded and sintered, in a process which caused their nanoparticles to bond together, yielding a fully-dense glass component.
This process was made possible by a revised version of the polymer-based silica glass developed by the University of Freiburg and its spin-out Glassomer, tweaked to be both highly transparent, and harden quickly at a predetermined threshold.
At an experimental level, scientists at the University of Freiburg have also worked with Nanoscribe in the past to 2PP 3D print glass silica microstructures. Again, through the use of Glassomer materials, the project participants found they were able to create complex objects with a surface roughness of just 6 nanometers, significantly less than the 40-200 nanometers seen in many other glass parts.
3D printing is now changing how glasses are designed and manufactured. Many eyewear manufacturers, or even individuals, are starting to adopt this layer-by-layer technique, mainly to differentiate their products from their competitors and bring more innovation to their glasses designs. But 3D printing technology also offers new possibilities for your eyewear company.
In the eyewear industry, this technology has been used more and more to create 3D printed glasses since it opens a broad range of possibilities to create 3D printed glasses frames totally custom-made. You can easily create either simple and complex designs.
Besides offering freedom of designs and shapes, 3D printing uses less material to produce glasses frames. Additive manufacturing also offers new opportunities, it is actually a great way to improve your product thanks to new designs and new materials: lighter 3D printed glasses frames can be made thanks to 3D printable frames.
When it comes to choosing glasses, quality of the material, resistance and durability are the main elements that need to be taken into account. To produce the same quality of glasses, Polyamide 12, known as Nylon, is commonly used to 3D print glasses frame. This material has the expected properties, being resistant, durable and offers great freedom for design. Thus, thanks to 3D printing you can create high-quality 3D printed glasses. For the moment, companies 3D print frames, but soon, it could even become possible for you to 3D print lenses for your glasses
3D printing helps you get ahead of your competitors, by getting a much more efficient manufacturing process. Moreover, using additive manufacturing is the perfect way to build your brand and your DNA. Using 3D printing, combines aesthetics and innovation, pushing your company to a brand new level.
If you want to use additive manufacturing to create finished 3D printed glasses, then, this technology will help you optimize your whole production process. Indeed, using additive manufacturing also means reducing your stock. With traditional manufacturing techniques, you need to build your stock, but with 3D printing: you avoid waste, you can produce your parts when you need them!
3D printed glasses have been around for years and many companies started to adopt this innovation to improve their design. Here are some 3D printed glasses manufacturers that adopted this technology to improve their products, or their manufacturing process.
Aiming to bring innovation to the fashion industry, Monoqool manufactures its own 3D printed glasses. In its new Slider Collection, this Danish-based eyewear company creates ultra-thin and lightweight glasses thanks to 3D printing. In this case, additive manufacturing is used to improve the product, not to create extravagant designs and collections. These glasses frames are simple and feature screwless hinges.
Creating 3D printed eyewear made in France! October71 uses our online 3D printing service to create ultra-light glasses. According to its founder Christophe Mouty, 3D printing for optics is a way to make light products, actually 30% lighter than acetate or plastic on average), but also very robust, customizable eyeglasses and sunglasses. It definitely helps optimize the supply chain of a eyewear manufacturer.
Additive manufacturing also allows for fancy possibilities. Hoet is a Belgian eyewear design company. Their goal is clearly to use 3D printing technology in order to experiment and find new designs. These glasses are another proof that additive manufacturing is able to create end products with great quality.
Another eyewear company that adopts this cutting-edge technology to create 3D printed glasses that really fit you. Protos Eyewear is using 3D printing at a more complex level than the previous brands: Protos created a software that allows them to alter the design of glasses to fit your facial structure. Using hypoallergenic bioplastics, Protos Eyewear creates innovative designs that are impossible to replicate using a traditional manufacturing process.
Manufacturing eyewear is not an easy thing to do, but 3D printing can help you with the manufacturing process, for rapid prototyping for example, but also for the production of your finished eyewear product. At Sculpteo, we help you give life to your 3D design in a few clicks.
So what material will be the best option in order to develop your 3D printed eyeglasses? For a reliable and economical project, the best choice will be to use a powder bed fusion technology, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which offers you possibilities to print using various of our plastic materials such as Nylon PA12, or Multi Jet Fusion PA12 and make the most of great finishes for your 3D printed glasses, or 3D printed sunglasses.
You could go even further by developing glasses made using plastic and metal 3D printing: technology such as binder jetting could be used to add details and some jewelry to your creations. Additive manufacturing offers new opportunities, impossible to reach with traditional manufacturing techniques.
You are now ready to 3D print your own glasses, but we have one more tip for you. Indeed, to help you get the best finished product, we recommend you to add the Color touch finish to your 3D printed glasses. This finish is available on our online 3D printing service thanks to the DyeMansion technology and will optimize the final look of your glasses by giving them a satin look. At Sculpteo, we already 3D printed luxury sunglasses with this finish. They have been used daily for more than two years now, and their colors are still UV-stable and brilliant.
So, do you have any idea in mind about your own 3D printed glasses design? Print your own glasses right now by uploading your 3D file. Make the most of our professional 3D printers and receive your parts in a few days! From rapid prototyping to production, additive manufacturing will help you give life to your 3D design.
The eyewear industry is making the most of the advantages of additive manufacturing. 3D printing is offering you freedom of design and customization abilities that you might not be able to get with a traditional manufacturing technique. It really opens a broad range of possibilities to create 3D printed glasses frames totally custom-made adapted to a certain style or morphology. You can easily create either simple and complex designs. 2ff7e9595c
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