It wasn’t long after the buzz began that we started hearing about extremely unique, if sometimes impractical, 3D printed footwear – shoes that featured gold plating and interchangeable heels, and pairs that could breach security and help Kenyans afflicted with jigger infections reduce their chances of being infected again. We’ve even seen a pair of 3D printed “magic shoes” help a young girl with cerebral palsy walk on her own.
Then, of course, there are the companies that solely focus on 3D printed footwear and insoles, like Feetz, Wiiv, RESA, and OESH Shoes. More and more, we are seeing a steadfast change in the world toward custom, on-demand choices in our shoes and clothing, and a lot of this change is due to the customization offered by 3D printing technology.
While we are still not at the point where 3D printed shoes are available on the shelves during a trip to the mall, we are now seeing companies that have not previously focused on 3D printed footwear, like HP and now EnvisionTEC, joining the 3D printed footwear craze – even if it may not be happening as quickly as some would prefer.
“3D printing is this amazing combustion of mechanical, electronic, optical and software engineering, as well as material science. As such, it takes time for all this manufacturing technology to be optimized to work together for specific tasks — way more time than it takes for, say, consumer technology,” EnvisionTEC wrote recently.
“At EnvisionTEC, we’ve been developing 3D printers and materials for 15 years, so we know this stuff takes time.”
E-Shore A is waterproof, tear-resistant, durable, and, most importantly, comfortable. It has a stable viscosity and produces beautiful 3D printed products. The advanced, engineering-grade material is similar to polyurethane, and according to EnvisionTEC, is capable of producing a soft Shore A value in the 40-50 range. The material was developed specifically for end-use applications, like sporting goods and footwear.
E-Shore A material by EnvisionTEC is available in beta for the company’s more experienced customers, and I’m certain I’m not alone when I say that I can’t wait to hear more about it soon.
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[Images: EnvisionTEC]