This flexible single-material hiking shoe can only be mass-produced using 3D printing technology

On May 3, 2022, a designer named Daniel Shirkey, inspired by the design inspiration from tangled roots and vines, designed an extremely lightweight hiking shoe for people who like to travel.According to him, this
shoe
is characterized by the use of full3D printingThe technology enables a one-piece molding process and uses only one material.

Shirley’s main design goal was to find out how, in a single material, he could design a shoe that was as flexible as it was comfortable, while still being suitable for hiking and always giving the foot the support it needed. .Therefore, in order to meet the above design requirements, in addition to using the full3D printingIn addition, it is equipped with lightweight pedals at the bottom, so that it is still feasible to use even on uneven surfaces and dirt roads.

The highlight of the Earth Moc is its design. The shape looks a bit like a crocodile, but it has interwoven design elements that provide the stretch and flexibility of a traditional sandal. While most single-material shoes are made through injection molding of elastomers, Shirley’s concept takes a different route.Because, traditional injection molding
mold
Intertwined elements are almost impossible to complete, which is what the designer used3D printing technologymain reason.
Prototypes of the shoe are currently being developed by the Swiss-based
Sintratec
Manufacturing, a 3D printing and solutions company with Sintratec S2 3D printerAnd TPE process construction.

In the video above, Shirley describes his approach to visualizing and modeling shoes. The intricate latticework of Earth Moc’s braid is difficult to draw in sketches or 3D
software
direct visualization, so Shirley used masking tape to cover the plastic
insole
and sketch directly on it (you can compare according to the diagram above).

Once Shirley’s low-tech sketch was ready, he put it into Gravity Sketch, a VR-based 3D modeling software, to make an actual CAD model of the shoe. After sharing the renderings on his social media, Shirley teamed up with Sintratec to build a prototype of the design using TPE. At present, Earth MOC is still in the initial prototype design modification stage and cannot be sold for the time being, but there are already many hiking enthusiasts who are very optimistic about the launch of the shoe.

About Sintratec S2

It is an all-in-one 3D printer, and the selective laser sintering system consists of a laser sintering station (LSS), a core unit (MCU) and a material handling station (MHS). Together, these modules form a unique, self-contained additive manufacturing process system.

Once a high-quality SLS print is completed at the sintering station, the printed object is conveniently and cleanly dedusted at the processing station. Easily switch from one printing material to another and reduce downtime. Due to the modular system design, additional expansions can be made on demand.

(responsible editor: admin)