Design

2019 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge returns with Protolabs

Now in its third year, the 3D Printing Industry Awards will return to London on Thursday, 6th June, 2019. Not only is it now time to cast your vote to decide this year’s winners, we are also proud to announce the launch of this year’s Trophy Design Challenge. Sponsored for the second time by digital manufacturing enterprise Protolabs, this community-led competition gives budding designers the opportunity to literally place their ideas in the hands of the biggest names in our industry.

In addition, courtesy of our trophy challenge prize sponsor Ultimaker, the winner will receive an Ultimaker 3 3D printer.

The Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge is hosted by MyMiniFactory.

Josef Prusa, founder and CEO of Prusa Research.
Josef Prusa, founder and CEO of Prusa Research at the 2018 3D Printing Industry Awards.

Why should I enter?

We launched the 3D Printing Industry Awards as a way of celebrating landmark innovations in additive manufacturing and 3D printing. The companies are selected by the most informed people in the industry, our readers.

Last year, esteemed guests to the 3D Printing Industry Awards included Josef Prusa, Materialise Founder and CEO Fried Vancraen, and Dr. Adrian Bowyer, who presented the award for Personal 3D printer of the year (FFF). Now, again, we are giving our readers the opportunity to feature front-and-center in this prize-giving evening.

If that wasn’t enough to spark your interest, we’re also giving away one Ultimaker 3 3D printer to this year’s winner. Worth over $3,000, this 3D printer is the product of almost a decade of development from award winning manufacturer Ultimaker. A dual-extrusion system, the Ultimaker 3 brings a whole new freedom to your 3D printed projects through the optional use of soluble supports. Nylon, PLA, Tough PLA, ABS, CPE, PVA, PC and PP are just a few of the materials optimized for use on this compact machine.

A favorite of print farms, the Ultimaker 3 is perfect for prototyping, rapid tooling development, and functional, moving parts. With a single nozzle, the 3D printer has full use of a 215 x 215 x 200 mm build volume. With both nozzles activated, the build volume is 197 x 215 x 200 mm.

Ultimaker 3 3D printers. Photo via Ultimaker
Ultimaker 3 3D printers. Photo via Ultimaker

Push 3D printing to its limits

The 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge is open to all designers with a flair for 3D modelling. In the spirit of the awards, trophy designs should embody the spirit of innovation and, in particular this year, the possibilities of SLA and MJF technologies.

 Features and considerations to include in your design are as follows:

– Lattice Structure
–  Designed to be made in two different materials, one part SLA and one part MJF
– Use of internal channels
– For SLA parts, Incorporate multiple features that are minimum 0.15-0.20mm in size (preferably in the same orientation)
– Minimum feature size for MJF parts is 0.75 mm
– Min/Max trophy size: 75 x 75 x 75mm/125 x 125 x 125mm
– Optimized for SLA and MJF

Don’t be put off if this seems overly complex or you feel you lack experience – last year’s design competition winner was a first time entrant into a MyMiniFactory design competition.

First from left: Sruthi Venkatest's winning design for the 2018 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy. Remaining designs, from left to right: Selection of 2018 Trophy Design entries by Devin Montes, R.B. and Giorgio Garbujo.
First from left: Sruthi Venkatest’s winning design for the 2018 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy. Remaining designs, from left to right: Selection of 2018 Trophy Design entries by Devin Montes, R.B. and Giorgio Garbujo.

Submit your designs

Once your design is complete, submit your entry to MyMiniFactory. Complete the upload with a render to demonstrate the best features of your design, and use the tag #3DPIAwards in its description.

Hundreds of people enter the 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge each year, so to make sure your work gets our attention. Post your designs on Twitter using the tags #3DPIAwards, @MyMiniFactory, @3DPrintIndustry, @Protolabs.

We’ll be sharing designs on our social media profile as the competition progresses.

Full Designer Resources, the Design Brief and Tips are provided on the official MyMiniFactory competition page, so be sure to check those out before you get started.

Deadline for entries is May 1, 2019.

2019 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge graphic
2019 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge graphic

Vote now in the 2019 3D Printing Industry Awards. For further event updates and news, subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Featured image shows the 2019 3D Printing Industry Awards Trophy Design Challenge graphic