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Nike Steps Up Their Additive Manufacturing Game for the 2014 World Cup
Already known for being among the first to include laser-sintered nylon into products used by world-class athletes for various sports, Nike is keeping their momentum moving as we approach the 2014 World Cup beginning June 12th in Brazil. The Rebento Duffel Bag and Mercurial Flylight (shin)Guard will feature prominent use of laser-sintered nylon for its unique structural and weight properties.
“State-of-the-art innovation meets traditional craftsmanship”
The Rebento Duffel is handcrafted from premium leather and fits seamlessly into its 3D printed base without the use of glue or adhesives. The Flyknit-inspired pattern of the structure allows for a stable support while also allowing flex when needed. Labeled as The World’s First 3D Printed Performance Sports Bag, the design is an exploration into what we may be seeing more of as the costs of using 3D printing as a method of final manufacturing becomes more prominent in consumer goods.
The Mercurial FlyLite Guard on the other hand is perhaps a more exciting application of using additive manufacturing to create mass-manufactured products. The combination of laser-sintered nylon and a unique webbed design allow for a protective shell that is both lightweight and ridged.
“We found that the more material you took away, the better the guard protected the shin…Reducing material also allowed for unprecedented flexibility, creating a fit that was unlike anything players had experienced.”
-Martin Lotti, Creative Director of Nike Football
While the material properties of the Guard itself allow for maximum protection, the honeycomb structure of the FlyLite Guard also allows for the most anatomical fit to date…impressive for a design that has omitted the traditional foam backing entirely.
The Rebento Duffel will (sadly) only be made for three players (Neymar Jr., Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronalod), however the Mercurial Flylight Guard will be available for the public through Nike.com starting July 1st.
The post Nike Steps Up Their Additive Manufacturing Game for the 2014 World Cup appeared first on SolidSmack.com.
Source: http://www.solidsmack.com/fabrication/nike-steps-3d-printing-game-2014-world-cup/
