2-in-1
3D Printer

The 3D printed mold boxes were used to create silicone mold negatives for casting objects. The quality of the silicone mold negatives affects directly casted objects. To ensure the best results the designer smoothens the printed mold boxes internal surface. That way, she gets rid of all cracks and unwanted features that could damage the silicone molds.

Afterward, the mold boxes were sprayed with mold release and filled with silicone. Usually, it takes around 24 hours for silicone to cure. Once cured, the silicone molds were filled with translucent epoxy resin mixed with small black and white stones. In the end, designer applied post-production techniques to smoothen the surface of the casted objects resulting in a series of products ready to sell.

The objects cast from resin 3D printed molds are ready to market and sell. The molds, which were printed in hours, significantly cut the production time and can be used to make several copies of the product. The low cost, short time, and high-quality results are proof of concept that 3D printed molds are now an option for low-volume manufacturing of ready-to-market high-quality objects.

Inspired by the works of Zaha Hadid and her studio, Paula Szarejko designed a futuristic house and its surroundings. Instead of ordering the model from an expensive third party contractor, she decided to look for a quicker and more cost-effective method of creating an architectural model that is both beautiful and useful. She decided to make it herself using ZMorph 2.0 SX. Its interchangeable toolheads gave her the ability to choose materials that suited her ideas best while she remained in full control over the manufacturing process.

Paula could 3D print the entire landform but decided that CNC-cutting it in plywood would give it more natural feel. Trees were laser-cut in a paper for similar reasons. The main building was 3D printed in one piece using DUAL PRO extruder. Gray PLA was used for walls while translucent PLA imitates glass. 3D printed terrace around the pools was covered with laser-cut floors while openwork garages were CNC-cut and put along the road. This combination of materials and techniques transformed into a truly unique architectural model.

3D printers gained the attention of a broader audience in the second decade of the XXI century with a few open source project which offered affordable additive manufacturing machines, simultaneously sparking a market for future 3D printer manufacturers. Since that time 3D printers evolved, even surpassing the function of 3D printing.

Nowadays, thanks to multitool 3D printers like the ZMorph VX, users can create complex, multi-material projects, including a PCB board. With this use case, we’d like to show you how advanced are multitool 3D printers today. The project you’re about to see wouldn’t be possible with a typical single-purpose 3D printer.

In order to make a fully custom drone we used all of ZMorph VX fabrication methods. 3D printing with ABS was used for the electronics casing, propeller guards, and landing gear. From a 3D printing toolhead we switched to Laser PRO toolhead to etch a PCB design on a PCB copper laminate plate. Next, a CNC PRO toolhead was used to cut the frame from lightweight and sturdy Dibond composite, and also to cut out the form of the PCB from the previously etched copper laminate. Then we took some standard electronics to make the drone “alive”, like sensors, main processor, battery, radio control remote. Finally, we made final post processing touches by painting some elements of the drone.