3D printing and sports: The 3D printed sports equipments are here!

3D printing in sports is possible. We saw in a previous blogpost that 3D printing is a major asset for winter sports: it has even been used during the Olympics. Indeed, additive manufacturing is allowing mass customization, and it is actually a great asset for this industry. We are going to see in this blogpost how additive manufacturing technology can revolutionize the sports field. Then, we are going to check what the best sports equipment made with 3D printing are.

The benefits of 3D printing for sports

Aerospace, medical, architecture, a lot of different industries are using 3D printing technology. Why couldn’t athletes also make the most of it? 

Prototyping

Additive manufacturing is an amazing method to 3D print for just any industry. Indeed, this technique allows making many iterations at lower costs. The process is quite simple: you just have to modify your 3D file with a 3D modeling software to print a brand new version of your future product! You will obviously save time using additive manufacturing for your prototyping process.

Production

You can also use 3D printing to produce your finished products. 3D printing technology allows manufacturing products with a really good quality. It is also possible to print really complex designs in just one part with this technology. Additive manufacturing can help you to optimize your product, as it is allowing to work on complex designs that are not feasible with traditional manufacturing processes.  

3D printing allowing mass customization

One of the most interesting advantages of 3D printing for sports is obviously mass customization. Indeed, 3D printing technology is perfect to create customized items, and it could totally benefits athletes that obviously need the best equipment to focus on their performances and give the best of themselves. It is a good news for athletes with a handicap. Indeed, 3D printing is already well used in the medical industry to manufacture prostheses perfectly adapted to their morphology, to their handicap but also to their sport. It could allow them to forget the handicap and focus on what they are doing without being disadvantaged.

High-Performance 3D Printing Materials: What opportunities exist for sports?

With the development of advanced Additive Manufacturing materials, the sports industry can enjoy new opportunities for more functional equipment.  

Ultrasint® TPU01 & Ultrasint® TPU 88A

Ultrasint® TPU 88A and Ultrasint® TPU01 are two thermoplastic polyurethanes presenting a high elasticity. The former is grey and was developed for MJF technologies, while the latter is white, and was designed for SLS technologies. As elastomers, TPU materials present very high fatigue resistance, energy return, and shock absorption capabilities, which make them ideal picks for all applications where flexibility is needed. 

Their advantages for sports equipment

Lightweight and durability are two key standards for sports equipment manufacturing, and this is where materials such as Ultrasint® TPU 88A and Ultrasint® TPU01 find utility. Indeed, their flexibility and shock absorption properties meet the damping requirements needed for sports protection equipment and footwear.  But other than these properties, sports goods manufactured with these materials can also enjoy the superior design potential of 3D printing. With lattice structure designs, high-performance sports equipment can be achieved with a much lighter weight than with other manufacturing techniques. Along with weight, design for Additive Manufacturing allows to enhance the properties of these high-performance materials, hence to make the most of 3D printed helmets, shinguards, soles, shoes, and much more.

3D printing for sports: The best sports equipments

3D printed running shoes

Additive manufacturing is a great asset for the footwear industry. Brands like New Balance, Adidas or Nike are already using this mass customization technique. For example, Adidas used Carbon resins to create 3D printed soles for running shoes. Smaller businesses such as Feetz are also making the most of this technology, offering to their clients soles adapted to their feet. For sport, it allows making shoes adapted to the athlete's morphology. Moreover, this process allows avoiding months-long processes, as the additive manufacturing technology is really a time-saving manufacturing process. It is possible to get an adapted pair of shoes in no time!

3D printing for cycling

At Sculpteo we wanted to show our clients that it is possible to create a whole bike using 3D printing and laser cutting. And we made it. We developed a bike with 70% of parts created with digital manufacturing, using our online laser cutting and 3D printing service. But it is also possible to create bike equipment using additive manufacturing! For example, one of our clients at Sculpteo developed the Kupol project, a fully 3D printed bike helmet made with the HP Multi Jet Fusion PA 12 black plastic. 

Custom made golf clubs

Each golfer is unique, and Grismont Paris really understood that. That is why they decided to develop custom made clubs. These clubs are useful, adapted to the player and his playing technique, but they also have incredible designs. The founder is a golf passionate interested in additive manufacturing. He is now working with engineers, craftmen, club makers and artists to build impressive golf clubs, able to fit any golfer’s specifications with style.

The 3D printed glove for wheel racing

Arielle Rausin developed her own 3D printed gloves for wheelchair racing. This equipment is so useful and durable that other 3D printed gloves will certainly be printed for the whole team. The 3D printing technology really allowed her to design gloves that were perfectly fitting her hands, to feel at ease and become even more efficient during the races.

Cycling with a 3D printed leg

Denise Schindler lost one of her legs in an accident. Thanks to a 3D printed prosthesis she is able to compete in the Olympics. What are the advantages of this prosthesis for Denise Schindler? Actually, the prosthesis has been cheaper to develop than a traditional prosthesis, and it has been manufactured in no time. Last but not least: this leg is perfectly adapted to the rider, and to the bike!

credit: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-olympics-rio-germany-paralympics-idUKKCN0XV2AQ

3D printed protection mask

Custom made protections are essential for athletes. This 3D printed equipment is particularly dedicated to footballers suffering from recent facial injuries.

This mask is looking like a Zorro mask, but it allows them to play while recovering from a bone fracture, a broken nose, etc. How is it made? Simply with a 3D scan of the player’s face, made using Cavendish Imaging. It is allowing to get a custom made mask for the player to protect its injuries.

3D printed mouthguards

Athletes have to wear mouthguards for the practice of some sports. These have to become even more accessible. Indeed, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that each year, 600 000 emergency visits are due to dental injuries. 26% are sports-related. The science-based company Royal DMS based in the Netherlands made a partnership with 3Dmouthguards . Their will is to create 3D printed, sustainable protection gears for athletes, combining comfort and safety. A flexible thermoplastic is used to create these mouthguards. Thanks to accurate 3D scanning methods its is now possible to make adapted mouthguards. For example, companies like Damage Control developed their own scanning process (the 3 Shape Lab Scanning) and are able to get a digital version of your teeth, to create mouthguards and 3D print them. 

It is now possible to use 3D printing to get customized products and the sports sector is really making the most of this technology. Indeed, the future of 3D printing seems really promising in this field. As you can see, 3D printing has many advantages for different industries and sports is one of them! What do you think about using 3D printing for sports? Let us know! Are you a sports manufacturer? Start using 3D printing now!