3D printing and the fantasy world of superheroes
It’s easy to see why movies involving superheroes are so successful; they offer an unrivalled sense of escapism and adventure, presenting viewers with extraordinary protagonists who everyone wishes they could trade places with. Judging by the amount of superhero-inspired products which have been created using 3D printers, it’s safe to say there are a lot of 3D printing enthusiasts who are also huge superhero fans! Here are some of the most extraordinary 3D printed creations which help to bring the fantasy world of superheroes a little closer to reality.
The best batman costume of all time
3D printing has been used in a variety of fashion applications, creating dresses, gowns, jewellery and many other wearable accessories. However, one hobbyist has taken things a step further by creating a fully wearable batman costume, known as the Batsuit, constructed entirely using 3D printing technology. By utilising the services of Tundra Designs and Gauntlet FX, businessman Stevie Dee spent thousands of his own money having each part of the Batsuit additively manufactured.
While 3D printing was responsible for the construction of the parts, there was a significant amount of post-processing performed in order to get the correct movability and aesthetics that Stevie required. The parts were cast in polyurethane rubber for flexibility and were sanded down in order to get the texture just right. You can view the Batsuit here - it looks absolutely amazing!
Superhero prosthetics
Last year, a heart-warming story hit the news regarding a designer who had been creating 3D printed prosthetics for war amputees in Sudan. Because 3D printing is economical for manufacturing one-off prosthetics which can be tailored to the contours of an individual’s body, there is much reason to assume this technology will be utilised more frequently within the prosthetics industry. However, economical short run production cycles are also key if you want to create prosthetics with a superhero twist!
Aaron Brown, an American 3D printing hobbyist working for non-profit organisation Enabling the Future, has been designing prosthetic hands which resemble the claws of Wolverine. After receiving a positive response when he presented a child in a children’s hospital with this unique prosthetic, he now has plans to produce prosthetics in the style of Iron Man and Captain America too, which he hopes will be a big hit with children in need of such devices.
Ironman’s arc reactor
Fans of the Iron Man franchise will know that protagonist Tony Stark’s magnificent armour is powered by a fictional device called the Arc Reactor. One evening while watching Iron Man 2, Dutch student Timo Maluche was so inspired that he felt compelled to create a replica of the Arc Reactor using Autodesk Inventor CAD software and his very own CartesioM 3D printer. Each part of the intricate device was 3D printed and then pieced together, but he was very careful with the design to leave enough space for an LED light source, which he painstakingly soldered into the device as the finishing touch. Currently, Timo uses the futuristic-looking Arc Reactor as a bedside lamp - perhaps not what Tony Stark would have envisaged!
(Image by julosstock)
Tagged with: 3D printed Batman suit, superhero prosthethics
