The 2018 3D Printing Industry Awards trophy design challenge is sponsored by Protolabs.
The design challenge is held to find a trophy to award the leaders of the 3D Printing Industry at our May 17th gala dinner. You can enter the design competition here.
To showcase the possibilities of additive manufacturing, we prepared a brief suggesting designs including a lattice structure, and internal channels optimized for SLA 3D printing.
With only two weeks left to go, we have prepared a showcase of those designs that we feel demonstrate a good understanding of the brief, and an exploration of the parameters offered by SLA.
3D printing vs. traditional manufacturing
A key theme of this year’s entries, following last year’s winning concept, is a fusion of production styles.
Designs that illustrate the evolving relationship between additive and traditional manufacturing demonstrate a flair for sculptural content, and a grounding in touchstones 3D printing aesthetics – for example lattices, low polys and even generative design.
Traditional and organic structures
Giorgio Garbujo (MyMiniFactory user @gioj94) has uploaded multiple entries for the trophy design competition, showing clear consideration for the limits of the brief.
The so-title “Iceberg” trophy (see below), is the latest iteration of Garbujo’s idea. It combines defined block elements, with an organic and seemingly computer generated mesh.
The complexity and density these interlocking shapes contribute to the variety of features required by the design brief (to incorporate multiple features that are 0.15-0.20mm in size, preferably in the same orientation.)
Looking for a lattice and internal features
Jonathan Ulbrich’s (@Matrixyz) entry depicts a cubed lattice structure concealing the letters X, Y, Z for each of a 3D printers’ axis.
Internal channels are incorporated into the central pillar of the trophy, which finishes in a heap of low-poly blocks, a nod to one of the Maker Community’s favourite design styles.
Classic remixes
Like Morgan Morey’s (@c4th) entry from last year, Younes Chahid (@Younes_Chahid) has opted for a remix of a Scan the World sculpture, taking Michelangelo’s David and stripping it back to organic shapes. Although the test print uses FFF, this gives us a great idea about how it will work in SLA.
And David Kittle’s (@dkittl20) simple but effective trophy gives an edge aimed to communicate the prestige of the event.
Enter now
Submissions for this year’s 3D Printing Industry Awards trophy design challenge can be made here using the crucial #3DPIAwards tag on Twitter and MyMiniFactory.
The competition closes midnight (GMT) on March 31st 2018.
In addition to having your design manufactured by Protolabs, first place will win a Wanhao Duplicator 9 3D printer. A second Wanhao Duplicator 9 will also be available as a prize for runner up, and entrants will receive an additional 10% discount for any Duplicator 9 3D printer purchased before the Awards ceremony on 17th May 2018.
Help adjudicate this year’s winner of the 2018 3D Printing Industry Awards here.
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Featured image shows the latest version of Giorgio Garbujo’s 3D Printing Industry Awards 2018 design entry.