TPU probably has the physical properties and durability needed for lattice running shoe soles and similar applications, but not when the lattice is printed in layers, even with the relatively good inter layer strength of TPU. 3D printed silicone is also a contender. If I was Nike's head of future product development, I'd be hiring people with the talent to manufacture custom FDM printers with nozzles the diameter of the lattice elements, but rather than printing in layers, print each lattice element from end to end. There may be 2-4 nozzles that operate similar to a weaving machine to interlock the lattice structure. The FDM printers would be designed specific to the task of printing shoe soles and the kinematics would probably resemble a CNC milling machine where the tool head moves in 3D rather than typical FDM printers that operate in sequential 2D layers. Or the "nozzle" might be a thin slot the width of a sole with the ability to block the edges to make extruded vertically slanting sheets the width of the sole at that position. It wouldn't take long to print a sole with ribbons of TPU that are folded and laid on each other. At the large production volume of shoes, 3D printing technology should not be constrained to the two currently available general purpose technologies of FDM or UV cured resin.
Like it was sad FDM is more suitable, for wallbased and closed cell based lattice, which have a property that is called stretching dominated. Stretching dominated is a property, which makes lattice proportional to the realtive density stiffer. This is good, if you want to produce lightweight parts, this properties has the disadvantage that it gives less geometry related flex and the amount of energy that the lattice can absorb is reduced. Those two properties are needed for shoesoles. So far so good for your proposed process. There is one major flaw, with strut based lattices. That are the lattices you try to create, and also adidas uses. That is in the points were the struts meat, there are very sharp corner, which leads stress concentration. This makes the materials fail faster. Your process has the potential problem, that it places the only layer lines in exactly those points. This is also the reason, if you look closely at adidas lattices they have placed larger balls at those points. One potential way to reduce this problem for your process, that I would propose is that there are knot based 3d weaven based lattices, which by twisting the strands of wire in knots may be able to overcome this problem. This is because the connection, no longer relies on the inter layer bonding and loads the printed strands. Sorry for my bad english I am not a native speaker. I hope, my ideas and knowledge cam across, if not just wright me. I am currently writing my bachelor's thesis on this topic and it is great to see this topic more prevalent on social media.
@@chinook9785 - Thank you for the detailed information. I was far from presenting a complete solution, which is why Adidas isn't sending me a million dollar check. 🙂 I was mostly commenting on how we tend to get stuck in a solution and even when we believe we are being creative and innovative, we're needlessly limiting ourselves. There is huge potential for the general purpose FDM filament printers and MSLA resin printers we have now, but when applying additive manufacturing concepts to large scale mass production of consumer goods, there is nearly unlimited potential when we can design a 3D printer that's specific to a single process such as shoe soles and then vary the printing process or equipment slightly for different shoe sizes or styles. I recently bought a new low cost consumer FDM 3D printer and was very impressed with how much better it was than the 3D printer that I bought two years ago, and have used extensively. I've been involved with 3D printing since the early days of the hobby machines, building a couple of Hadron Ordbots. We've come a long way, but there are many more improvements to be made. At the rate we're going, we'll have Star Trek replicators that assemble matter an atom at a time in another 30 years. 😀
Im sorry but you are completely wrong about some of your criticisms. Enclosing the exterior wouldn't cause printing issues with a resin printer, remember resin printers print upside down, the sole would stick to the build plate and the excess could easily drain away. Also, dyes can be added to resin so you can achieve basically any colour you want, alternatively you can also spray paint the material the colour you want after.
The most useful way to utilize FDM printing would be to make soluble casts for a range of resins of different properties and colors. Reisins with differing properties could be injected within the same sole to maximize performance. At scale, the soluble material could be recovered.
Hello @Slant 3D, - Video topic/request: How to design part to optimize for auto-ejection, and maybe some tips and tricks for actually printing process with auto-ejection. - Also, what build surface do you use for your printers/auto-ejection? - I can't tell from the videos but it looks like a glass bed. - I guess I'd also be interested in how you design or evaluate 3D printers for mass production. I think it would be really interesting to see what features "matter" and what is considered more of a novelty for hobbyists or the evolution in your designs. Thanks
I know this isn't related to the point of this video, but do you guys have an idea of how (if at all) digital twining of FDM printers will fit into print farms such as yours?
Yes this is quite neat. Especially the way they use a 2 part resin that not only uses photosensitive monomers, but also the thermoreactive monomers to give it it's final shape. The downside is that to date these shoes are still quite inferior. I owned 2 pairs of differend models and both came apart in under 2 months of regular wear. Not the soles, those were exquisite and worked perfectly, even for a 255lbs man. But just the fabric of the shoe itself. It tore in both pairs and Adidas didn't even refund me. So TL;DR, awesome in concept and idea, but not quite there yet in reality.
I like your videos and it is really really helpful for me !!! but seems currently, the existing shoe designs are only for sneakers. If use 3d printing tech to make a high heels or wedge shoe ??? maybe that's also an idea , hope can watch video for 3d printing about heels or wedge shoes , thanks :)
I am totally surprised by how durable TPU is and how well it flexes even in hot/cold weather. I have a set of hydraulic plugs on my lawn tractor that have lasted for a little over 3 years now and are still flexible and work! I wonder if any company could develop a formulation of TPU that would do the same thing as what Adidas and Carbon are doing. There ya go, a billion dollar idea. I will take a 10% cut LOL
TPU is probably what most viewers of this channel think when they see this video's thumbnail. I made flip flops for myself last year using TPU for straps and gym foam for the base. I have a laser cutter for the foam and FDM the straps. I can print new summer sandals anytime and it's great!
I know that resin printers have their place, and can do amazing things, but I just don't want to deal with the goo. Squicks me right out. I would rather deal with FDM spaghetti any day.
TPU probably has the physical properties and durability needed for lattice running shoe soles and similar applications, but not when the lattice is printed in layers, even with the relatively good inter layer strength of TPU. 3D printed silicone is also a contender. If I was Nike's head of future product development, I'd be hiring people with the talent to manufacture custom FDM printers with nozzles the diameter of the lattice elements, but rather than printing in layers, print each lattice element from end to end. There may be 2-4 nozzles that operate similar to a weaving machine to interlock the lattice structure. The FDM printers would be designed specific to the task of printing shoe soles and the kinematics would probably resemble a CNC milling machine where the tool head moves in 3D rather than typical FDM printers that operate in sequential 2D layers. Or the "nozzle" might be a thin slot the width of a sole with the ability to block the edges to make extruded vertically slanting sheets the width of the sole at that position. It wouldn't take long to print a sole with ribbons of TPU that are folded and laid on each other. At the large production volume of shoes, 3D printing technology should not be constrained to the two currently available general purpose technologies of FDM or UV cured resin.
Like it was sad FDM is more suitable, for wallbased and closed cell based lattice, which have a property that is called stretching dominated. Stretching dominated is a property, which makes lattice proportional to the realtive density stiffer. This is good, if you want to produce lightweight parts, this properties has the disadvantage that it gives less geometry related flex and the amount of energy that the lattice can absorb is reduced. Those two properties are needed for shoesoles. So far so good for your proposed process. There is one major flaw, with strut based lattices. That are the lattices you try to create, and also adidas uses. That is in the points were the struts meat, there are very sharp corner, which leads stress concentration. This makes the materials fail faster. Your process has the potential problem, that it places the only layer lines in exactly those points. This is also the reason, if you look closely at adidas lattices they have placed larger balls at those points. One potential way to reduce this problem for your process, that I would propose is that there are knot based 3d weaven based lattices, which by twisting the strands of wire in knots may be able to overcome this problem. This is because the connection, no longer relies on the inter layer bonding and loads the printed strands. Sorry for my bad english I am not a native speaker. I hope, my ideas and knowledge cam across, if not just wright me. I am currently writing my bachelor's thesis on this topic and it is great to see this topic more prevalent on social media.
@@chinook9785 - Thank you for the detailed information. I was far from presenting a complete solution, which is why Adidas isn't sending me a million dollar check. 🙂 I was mostly commenting on how we tend to get stuck in a solution and even when we believe we are being creative and innovative, we're needlessly limiting ourselves. There is huge potential for the general purpose FDM filament printers and MSLA resin printers we have now, but when applying additive manufacturing concepts to large scale mass production of consumer goods, there is nearly unlimited potential when we can design a 3D printer that's specific to a single process such as shoe soles and then vary the printing process or equipment slightly for different shoe sizes or styles.
I recently bought a new low cost consumer FDM 3D printer and was very impressed with how much better it was than the 3D printer that I bought two years ago, and have used extensively. I've been involved with 3D printing since the early days of the hobby machines, building a couple of Hadron Ordbots. We've come a long way, but there are many more improvements to be made. At the rate we're going, we'll have Star Trek replicators that assemble matter an atom at a time in another 30 years. 😀
Im sorry but you are completely wrong about some of your criticisms.
Enclosing the exterior wouldn't cause printing issues with a resin printer, remember resin printers print upside down, the sole would stick to the build plate and the excess could easily drain away.
Also, dyes can be added to resin so you can achieve basically any colour you want, alternatively you can also spray paint the material the colour you want after.
Great video. I think your camera is slightly out of focus if you want to give it a check. It's focused on the books behind you.
I came here to say this. It’s really uncomfortable to watch and distracting 😔
Overall a pretty good summary - kudos to researching the background so thoroughly! I liked to watch and relive the good old time :)
So... when are the slant 3D shoes coming out?
The most useful way to utilize FDM printing would be to make soluble casts for a range of resins of different properties and colors. Reisins with differing properties could be injected within the same sole to maximize performance. At scale, the soluble material could be recovered.
Have seen your recent videos, and the camera seems to be out of focus, don't know if is intentional or distinctive to this channel.
Hello @Slant 3D,
- Video topic/request: How to design part to optimize for auto-ejection, and maybe some tips and tricks for actually printing process with auto-ejection.
- Also, what build surface do you use for your printers/auto-ejection? - I can't tell from the videos but it looks like a glass bed.
- I guess I'd also be interested in how you design or evaluate 3D printers for mass production. I think it would be really interesting to see what features "matter" and what is considered more of a novelty for hobbyists or the evolution in your designs.
Thanks
I ran on a pair of 2021 models for 500 miles. They’re awesome and super durable, if I was good at sewing I could fix the top of them with the cloth.
I know this isn't related to the point of this video, but do you guys have an idea of how (if at all) digital twining of FDM printers will fit into print farms such as yours?
can you make a video on printing parts for outdoors that can last in the sun and freezing conditions?
I enjoy the twinkle in your eyes when you explain that a product can only be made by 3D-printing! 😂
color changing is very easy with resin printing, you can get dies that you add to resin to get any color you want.
Coloring can be limited due to the optical properties of some colorant preventing full curing.
I've never had any issue of dirt/gravel in my 4d shoes ever so I'm not sure what you're meaning there in that regard.
Yes this is quite neat. Especially the way they use a 2 part resin that not only uses photosensitive monomers, but also the thermoreactive monomers to give it it's final shape.
The downside is that to date these shoes are still quite inferior. I owned 2 pairs of differend models and both came apart in under 2 months of regular wear. Not the soles, those were exquisite and worked perfectly, even for a 255lbs man. But just the fabric of the shoe itself. It tore in both pairs and Adidas didn't even refund me.
So TL;DR, awesome in concept and idea, but not quite there yet in reality.
im gonna buy workwear boots still as they survive longer than adidas
I like your videos and it is really really helpful for me !!! but seems currently, the existing shoe designs are only for sneakers.
If use 3d printing tech to make a high heels or wedge shoe ??? maybe that's also an idea , hope can watch video for 3d printing about heels or wedge shoes , thanks :)
Focus dat camera; vids are great tho
I am totally surprised by how durable TPU is and how well it flexes even in hot/cold weather. I have a set of hydraulic plugs on my lawn tractor that have lasted for a little over 3 years now and are still flexible and work! I wonder if any company could develop a formulation of TPU that would do the same thing as what Adidas and Carbon are doing. There ya go, a billion dollar idea. I will take a 10% cut LOL
TPU is probably what most viewers of this channel think when they see this video's thumbnail. I made flip flops for myself last year using TPU for straps and gym foam for the base. I have a laser cutter for the foam and FDM the straps. I can print new summer sandals anytime and it's great!
Just wanted to mention:
It's not Adeedas - it's Adi-Das - from Adolf Dassler, the German businessman.
Yeah, but this is 'Murica and we say Adeedas here 😁
@@dudea3378 Right, I forgot that you don't even know how to pronounce your own English words. How dumb to assume that you could get that one right. :P
Cleaning those adidas after you step in shit will be epic!
The fact that you're not in focus makes my eyes hurt...
I know that resin printers have their place, and can do amazing things, but I just don't want to deal with the goo. Squicks me right out. I would rather deal with FDM spaghetti any day.
7:25 AND THIS IS WHY PROPRIETARY BS SVCKS. I got very angry very fast.