Sculpteo and designers from Particule 14 have joined forces at Milan Design Week to launch an entirely new generation of objects. Welcome to the new era of Design 2.0. Sculpteo’s latest Cloud 3D printing technology marks a new shift in the design industry and the way in which bespoke and unique objects can be manufactured, right from the conception stage to production.
“On demand e-manufacturing”: the objects can be customised via the Sculpteo app, therefore each one has been conceived by professional designers and can then be personalised and ordered by anyone with an iPhone or iPad.
Particule 14 comprises a group of nine designers who have collaborated with Sculpteo to conceive beautiful objects that are manufactured via the Sculpteo mobile application. These new kind of objects are 3D printed using Sculpteo’s unique process.
Both Sculpteo and Particule 14 are taking part in an event called ‘France Design’ and an exhibition called ‘Material Matters 2’which is a dedicated space to design and architecture at Milan.
The fusion between technology and design
As technology evolves this also influences design practices which develop at the same time and continually adapt according to the tools which are available. Did you know that 3d printing is a truly dynamic technology and has greatly advanced and become a great deal more creative since it was first used for rapid prototyping. Sculpteo has worked at making their service as creative and easy to use as possible, both for designers, even novices who are new to using 3D software and also end users.
In January Sculpteo collaborated with No Design studio and Jean-Louis Frechin to launch their application for IOS devices. This marked the launch of their 3D printing Cloud Engine and was also a natural step for Sculpteo who already provided a platform for designers to promote, produce and sell their work via the Sculpteo website since the company first started in 2009. The fact that more and more high profile designers are interested in partnering with Sculpteo demonstrates that 3D printing is becoming more and more creative. Sculpteo constantly update their range of materials and are able to adapt according to designers needs and therefore push the boundaries in terms of the range of objects which can be produced using their service.
Material, Form, Process
Sculpteo’s dedicated research and development team are constantly developing new materials which can be 3D printed. As well as ceramic, they also currently offer alumide (a new strong material made of polyamide and grey aluminium dust), silver, white detail resin, plastic (in a range of colours), multicoloured material (made of mineral powder) and many more will be released in the forthcoming months.
Sculpteo makes it possible for designers to not only create objects in a series but also one off unique objects. The possibilities are wide ranging: objects can be designed to integrate personal data, to be made according to certain constraints and it is also possible to print round shapes, curved edges, moving parts as well as hollow objects.
Sculpteo’s service involves a step by step process. First the design is created using the Sculpteo process that can automatically convert data into 3D files, or 3D software, using Sculpteo’s unique automatic correction tool. People can upload their own 3D design using Sculpteo’s website or Sculpteo affiliate sites or people can select objects on the Sculpteo App available on IOS devices. The object is then printed using a laser-sintering technique when it is printed layer by layer. The objects which are made from ceramic undergo a post-process during which it is fired and glazed and therefore suitable for everyday use.
Clément Moreau, CEO of Sculpteo: “we want design to be at the heart of our business as much as the 3D printing technology which we are developing all the time. From having unveiled new collaborations with designers at Milan Design Week demonstrates how this technology is no longer a technology just for geeks, but a new way to produce bespoke objects. Now designers can easily integrate the 3D Printing revolution into their business. Design and technology work very much in conjunction with one another and the era of mass customization is now very much becoming a reality”.
A new form of e-manufacturing
The Sculpteo 3D printing engine can be incorporated into any e-commerce website which would like to offer a bespoke 3D printing service. This enables designers to produce objects according to demand. Particule 14 has therefore fully integrated the Sculpteo 3D printing Cloud Engine into their business. Not only will certain designs be available on the Sculpteo app but also anyone can select and order any design directly on www.particule14.com and receive their chosen design (once it has been customised) directly in the post.
Through this collaboration, Sculpteo have managed to introduce a new way to link the magic of Internet with the physical world, a new world where people can touch digital files and customise the objects around them…
About Sculpteo
Founded in 2009, Sculpteo offers a fully online 3D printing service – from the upload of your 3D model to the final object – designed to make this new technology easy and accessible to all. In addition to affiliates, Sculpteo, has its own 3D printing facilities in the Pyrenees.
About Particule 14
Launched by Laurent Denize d’Estrées, founder of the group LHLC presse, Particule 14 is a cultural and educative association whose goal is to increase awareness of contemporary design among the professional and amateur public. All the different spheres of design are concerned: graphics, fashion, industrial, objects, space, cuisine, sound, fragrances, plants… The association implements varied initiatives that aim at promoting specific practices, savoir-faire, projects and innovations, with a view to encouraging the transmission of skills between physical or moral persons exercising their related activities.
About 3D printing
3D printing is a method of producing a real object from a 3D file, by building and solidifying a material layer by layer until the finished item is obtained. This technology is geared at anyone who wants to turn concept into concrete through concrete printing, imagination into reality. The virtual object becomes a tangible item, which can be handled and placed in real-life situations.
3D printing is an element in the custom-made trend – claiming the right to individuality and personal expression. Technology puts us back in control of the selection, modification or creation of the objects around us, be they utilitarian or strictly aesthetic.
3D files – or digital models – are geometric representations of a product. As with any other software, there are many different 3D-design applications available, free or not, all over the web. Similarly, there are multiple 3D file formats. The most common are obj, 3ds, stl, skp… Sculpteo.com handles them all.
Source: Press Release
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