The above video, which comes to us from Dezeen, showcases a piece of technology in its relative infancy. Oluwaseyi Sosanya, a graduate of the Royal College of Art, introduces us to his 3D weaving machine, an automated loom which threads material around a grid to create lightweight structures in a variety of patterns. It’s similar to 3D printing, which builds an object using X, Y and Z coordinates.
Sosanya’s design, as it is, looks very useful in sports applications. One of his projects on the machine was creating the tread on a pair of sneakers, but the slightly-rigid, slightly cushion-y structures the machine weaves can be useful for safety gear as well. If the project were scaled upward, the designer suggests it could be used to create building materials that use less material, while still being structurally sound. He also sees a possibility for the bio-tech sector, since the structures would flexible and easy to compress inside a human body.
Above image: Sneaker treads, a test for Oluwaseyi Sosanya’s 3D weaving machine. Screenshot from a video by Dezeen.
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Amazing! I just submitted a proposal for 3D Printing with honeycomb design, I was thinking hard and stiff plastic. This is amazing. Wish I could buy one to play with! Congrats!