OUR MATERIALS
In July 2020, Polymaker and Covestro released 3D printed fabrics. They have jointly developed a new processing technology with the industry’s top 3D printer manufacturers INTAMSYS and Raise3D to improve mass production and efficiency of 3D printed fabrics. The INTAMSYS FLEX 510 printer and Raise3D E2 printer are highly adapted for printing flexible materials which match the characteristics required for 3D printed fabric. This technology offers the textile industry both mass production and mass customization. 3D printing fabric may not only provide a more environmentally friendly solution, but also offers a new manufacturing method.
The integrated design of 3D printing could reduce the waste in the production process, and even target zero waste. In addition, in the production process of 3D printing, no water is used, no water is wasted, and no water is polluted.
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One of the challenges that remained unsolved until last year, was the incapability of 3D printed clothes to match up those made out of traditional fabrics. However, we have also found an initiative that aimed to make a 3D printer that would create clothes from scratch. The Electroloom Developer Kit is a tool for designing and manufacturing custom 3D fabrics.There is no need for thread, needles, or sewing. This technology reduces the traditional textile manufacturing process into a single step. Instead of sending raw material through factories where it undergoes numerous processing steps to create a traditional textile, it is able to directly convert raw material to finished goods.
Electroloom utilises a polyester/cotton mix, which would also make it easier to use recycled cotton and polyester fibers.