Virtual making

‘Virtual Making’ (Dutch Design Week 2008 Eindhoven Strijp S, Hall 3) was an interactive exhibition that introduced the viewer into the world of Rapid Manufacturing.
The starting point of the Rapid Manufacturing production process is a computer drawing which will be converted into a 3-dimensionall  object. This object is made out of small horizontal layers of plastic powder with a thickness of 0.1 mm. Instead of removing material (as in a conventional production process), material is added, this provides designers a lot of form freedom.

The design studios Peli Design, Wouter Scheublin, Design Drift, Studio ThoL and Kocx ontwerpen show the unique opportunities that the rapid manufacturing process provides. The work shown at the exhibition range from lighting and furniture to toys.

In various ways the production process was explained During the exhibition. There was a (live working)FDM machine and a 3D scanner provided by TNO. Solid Works Software and 3-modeling lessons where provided by Design Solution. During these lessons there was a possibility for the visitor  to draw and produce a digital object.
Shape Ways, a company that has emerged from the company Philips, offers an online portal where consumers can upload and discuss digital Rapid Manufacturing files. In the months before the Dutch Design Week Shapeways wrote out a design competition. The winning design of this contest was shown during the exhibition.

Participating companies where:
Shapeways, TNO, Free Form Fab and Design Solutions
 
For more information See www.virtualmaking.com.