In an ode to 3D printing, one would indeed be very busy counting the ways in which we love all the innovations and new opportunities to create brought right to our fingertips with a wide range of hardware, software, and materials all available in the marketplace today. What is most exciting though is to see 3D printing technology truly transforming traditional processes that were previously a headache before–and instead now offering convenience, affordability–and amazing options for customization.
A new partnership between Luxexcel and trinckle 3D offers a comprehensive look at how 3D printing is going to change the way optically transparent products can be designed and made, quickly and affordably.
Luxexcel, based in the Netherlands, is changing the game altogether in the fabricating of transparent optics, thanks to 3D printing. We’ve been following their progress, and especially as they secured €7.5 million in series B financing back in July for their 3D printed optics. Luxexcel is well-known already for their optical components such as micro structures, arrays, prisms, and freeform lenses.
With the 3D printing in the bag, the question remained to be answered previously as to where users were going to receive the designs from. Now, in collaborating with trinckle 3D, users are able to make their own lens designs in a specific program powered by trinckle 3D software technology.
Customers simply create their designs which will also have corresponding sizes for the cases–something to be considered. All they have to enter are focal length and diameter, and then a preview of the design and resulting 3D model is available for them to see before it actually gets ordered and 3D printed by Luxexcel.
“With our new design tool we want to take the next step in opening up the world of optical development,” says Peter Paul Cornelissen, Head of Marketing & Online Business Development. “Lowering the bar to make use of optimized optics for its application, and taking away the limitations of standard stock products will be a game changer for many designers that use optics in their products. The trinckle 3D customization software supports this development.”
Headquartered in Berlin, trinckle 3D has just begun testing and using the customization software, which functions as a ‘customizing cloud engine,’ with several of their clients. What makes their software important–as well as the overall project with Luxexcel–is that it’s a glimpse into the future of what customization and 3D printing will offer to the optics industry.
With the trinckle software, other entities (like Luxexcel) can integrate it easily onto their own sites.
“Luxexcel is a great partner and a perfect use case for our software, because the automated creation of custom-made lens models is an obvious and essential add-on to their cutting-edge production technology.” says trinckle 3D’s CEO, Florian Reichle. “However, product customization could be extremely important for every B2B or B2C company that tries to meet case-specific product requirements or the individual taste of a customer.”
Aside from what this can do for the Luxexcel platform, this is a software product that has great potential for a wide range of businesses involved in 3D printing who want to get involved with mass customization. The trinckle 3D software is not limited to the industry of optics and lenses, but it is based on 3D printing–and offers a world of magic for customers looking to make a customized purchase.
Have you had the chance to use this new tool? What were your thoughts? Let us know in the Luxexcel Lens Creator forum thread on 3DPB.com.
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