In the last couple of years we have seen a dramatic shift in the use of consumer based 3D printers within business oriented atmospheres. This is likely because consumer based 3D printers are increasing their utility, as well as efficiency. Designers for plays on Broadway, and in theaters across the globe are beginning to realize the usefulness of this awesome new technology, when modelling their sets. John Lee Beatty, a famed theater set designer, for many plays, both on and off Broadway, sat down recently with Playbill to discuss just how important 3D printing has become to his livelihood.
“At first, we only 3D-printed small pieces, like furniture and window frames, incorporated with traditional modeling materials like matte board and bass wood,” stated Beatty. “Now, the desktop printers we use are larger, and we can print entire scenic units in scale.
Beatty, as well as other set designers have been using 3D printing for a couple of years now, and have already noticed a dramatic increase in technological progress within the industry. In a matter of a couple of years they have gone from being able to print smaller models of windows, doors, and furniture, which they then adhered to matte board to produce a finished sections of a set model. Today they can print larger, more detailed units, including entire scenic units to scale.
Beatty predicts that the 3d printing industry will continue its rapid advance, becoming almost a necessity within the theater set design industry.
He said, “We may eventually be building the full scale scenery with a 3D printer,” he theorized. “In fact, in a pinch, we’ve been able to manufacture small pieces of the finished scenery with a 3D printer now. The stove hardware in “Outside Mullinger” was 3D-printed. And this past summer, when we worked on the Public’s Shakespeare in the Park production of Comedy of Errors, we 3D-printed oversized finials when the supplier failed to deliver in time.”
Below there is a video from 2012 where, Kacie Hultgren, an associate of John Lee Beatty, discusses and shows off her work with Makerbot 3D printers. Note that this was nearly 2 years ago, and since this time, Kacie has upgraded her 3D printing hardware so that she can build larger, more accurate models, as well as actual set objects. Discuss this story at 3DPrintBoard.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Stifel Receives Final Federal Approval for AM Forward Fund
In February 2024, Stifel Financial Corp. announced that it had received US government approval to begin raising funds for its Stifel North Atlantic AM-Forward Fund. Stifel has now announced that...
Nikon Advanced Manufacturing Has a Plan: CEO Hamid Zarringhalam on the Company’s Outlook for Metal 3D Printing in The US
As 2024 nears its end and we barrel right into the middle of the decade, the additive manufacturing (AM) industry still finds itself lacking direction. If there’s one thing the...
AMS 2025 Highlights Big Changes in 3D Printing with Pivotal Speakers and Panels
2023 was filled with excitement around the potential mergers being pursued by industry stalwart Stratasys (Nasdaq: SSYS), leading to some of the most insightful conversations imaginable at Additive Manufacturing Strategies...
Ursa Major & US Navy Make $25M Joint Investment in New 3D Printed Rocket Motor Prototype
Ursa Major, the Colorado-based company dedicated to building a North American rocket propulsion supply chain with advanced manufacturing, has become one of the first recipients of funding from the DoD’s...