Turn Back the Clock: Introducing the 3D printable ‘Cat-Eye’ and ‘1970’s’ glasses by Michele Badia

Perhaps he is the Pablo Picasso of 3D printing, or perhaps more like 3D printing’s version of Pierre Cardin or Calvin Klein. Regardless of who you would compare him to, Michele Badia is brilliant when it comes to designing products suitable to print on your typical FDM-based 3D printers.

We’ve covered his work in the past, including his 3D printed shoes, as well as pieces from his 3D printed lingerie collection. He’s a designer who works for MyMiniFactory, and he has created everything from the aforementioned lingerie to high heel shoes, earrings, and toy cars. Now another product can be added to this list: eye glasses.

We aren’t just talking about your typical pair of Ray Bans or Oakleys. We are talking about glasses which are both unique and fashionable, while at the same time can be 3D printed on virtually any 3D printer out there.

The 70’s Glasses

The vintage 70’s glasses by Badia are quite fashionable, whether you are still stuck in your glory days back when Richard Nixon was causing controversy in the White House, or you just like to display some traditional fashion in your everyday life.

” I’ve been influenced [by] the music and movies from the 1970’s, so [these sunglasses] are sort of a tribute to that particular time,” Badia tells 3DPrint.com. “Also this kind of frame was very popular and it still [is].”

What makes these sunglasses really unique is the fact that Badia recommends 3D printing them using special carbon fiber filament, which can be purchased via the iMakr.com store, and is manufactured by Proto-pasta. The filament is made of PLA, compounded with 15% chipped carbon fibers. It results in a stiff, lightweight feel with a black, slightly metallic shimmer. Taking less than one hour to print, anyone with an FDM 3D printer can create them and be wearing them in no time.

The Cat-Eye Glasses ‘Orchid’

Perhaps the 70’s were not the best of times for you. Perhaps you are more of a 1950’s or 1960’s type person. Don’t worry, Michele Badia has you guys and girls covered too! With his “Cat-eye” eyewear, anyone can turn the clock back and party like it’s 1955 once again.

“I like this particular model for the girls,” Badia tells us. “I think that this kind of shape looks very feminine. They were mainly popular in the 1950s and 1960s among fashionable women, I think because the role of the woman was changing at th[is] time. Women were performing what were previously considered to be men’s jobs, so there was a need of something very stylish and feminine to remark that status.”

There is a floral theme on one of the temples of these glasses which, according to Badia, is a tribute to the eras of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. As noted by Badia, these glasses look best on women with either diamond shaped or square shaped faces, although he is not discriminating. These glasses can also be 3D printed on any FDM based 3D printer, and it will take approximately three hours of print time to complete. Badia recommend printing with an infill of 50%.

For those of you who wish to turn back the clock, but are still living in the 50’s, 60’s, or 70’s and don’t have a 3D printer, you can purchase them already printed for only $35 a pair on MyMiniFactory.com. For those that are with the times, and own a 3D printer, you can download the designs totally free of charge, via MyMiniFactory.com. As for the lenses, Badia tells us that you can purchase them from MyMiniFactory as well, for an additional cost. Otherwise he suggests going to an optician and asking for custom made lenses which are 2mm thick. There are also websites such as Fuse Lenses which sell custom lenses starting at only $24.95 a pair.

What do you think about these custom glasses? Have you 3D printed either pair? Discuss in the 3D Printed Glasses forum thread on 3DPB.com.