Their story could have leapt straight out of a sci-fi movie: talented industrial designers and engineers take what was nearly scrap and reinvigorate it with purpose, using it to take on an entrepreneurial challenge in a futuristic world, while imbuing the machinery with a magic and personality of its own. With the Galatéa 3D printer, Sylvain Charpiot and Samuel Javelle of France have taken something once on its way to becoming obsolete and rebuilt it into a machine that many would say represents the most forward-moving and progressive technology we know.
This 3D printer has allowed the French designers not only the obvious end reward of building innovative and utilitarian technology that many manufacturers would probably seek were it mass produced on its own, but they’ve been able to use it to their own devices as well for doing what they are good at–designing and building beautiful furniture and stylish products for the interior. This line, created by men, but produced by Galatéa, is called Drawn.
“Our main asset is Galatéa, the giant 3D printer made from a robotic arm,” states the team on their Kickstarter page. “She is the star in our team and she always manages to steal the show.”
With Galatéa, Charpiot and Javelle are able to bypass all the talking, meeting, and waiting with manufacturers who could live halfway across the globe stalling their momentum just to get to the simple prototype phase and then again moving slowly from there. The 3D printer allows them to take their own path as a manufacturer–and quickly, too–as Galatéa is able to produce large pieces in relatively little time.
“She extrudes different shades of plastic material, specially the one used to make the Lego bricks, by heating it up to 230 °C and pushing it through its nozzle,” says the team. “The resulting look is instantly recognizable.”
Each 3D printed work can be customized for the buyer, who is actually able to get involved in the design of their furniture. Digital design allows for easy and fast changes to existing ideas, and the pieces can then be 3D printed in two hours by the large-scale, multi-color Galatéa.
Last we reported, Drawn was just a few furniture pieces in to production, and the team was looking toward creating a line. Now, they’ve produced coffee tables, dining tables, living room pieces, and more. Galatéa’s creators are also ready to take her work one step farther, with a Kickstarter campaign meant to raise €15,000 (around $17,000 USD) by July 22nd. While Galatéa and her resulting productivity has gained exposure and popularity and has been seen in venues like Maker Faire last year in Paris, the team needs to get on the trade show circuit and make contacts for beginning to sell the inventory of furniture already 3D printed by the busy Galatéa 3D printer.
Those who support the Drawn Kickstarter campaign can look forward to some cool furniture at great prices. Beginning as low as €30 to €35 (around $34-$40 USD), you can pledge your support and receive some of Drawn’s modern works for the interior like a toilet paper shelf or contemporary, personalized 3D printed hangers. For a bit more as the pledges ascend, you could be the proud owner of a Drawn 3D printed bottle rack, lamp, or champagne bucket.
At the €120 level, supporters receive a Drawn ottoman. Moving upward to €160, you can look forward to receiving a chair. As you spend a bit more, the Drawn giant vase is available, and upward until you reach support levels of €600 with groupings of their 3D printing chairs available–all the way to €5,000, where you are able to have your own set of furniture custom-designed just for your home.
The Drawn Kickstarter campaign is a good way to get some great deals on one-of-a-kind modern 3D printed furniture and other pieces for the home, adding color, function and comfort.
Found in an old dismantling automobile factory, Galatéa has ironically gone from taking products to the end of the line where they no longer have use to creating fresh new designs which will grace the homes of many fashion and technologically savvy consumers.
Will you be supporting the Drawn Kickstarter campaign? Discuss in the Drawn 3D Printed Designer Furniture forum thread over at 3DPB.com.
