3D Printing Insights: Market Analysis on Impact Mitigation Strategies

Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new padding design to help protect things from big impacts . Impact mitigation is one of the things Rob Maccurdy , assistant professor of mechanical engineering , is focused on . What we 're trying to do is to design a material based on its shape that can be more broadly applicable to a more wide variety of impact scenarios , said Maccurdy . These lattice structures , as we call them , will deform , said Charles Wade , a PhD student . Personal protective equipment is a big one , said Wade.

The research team is not focused on the type of material being used , but rather the geometry of that material . Wade is studying computer science and 3D printing . It 's a very cutting edge space to be in answering the question of how do we properly use these machines , said Wade . The materials being tested are likely to help in many different applications . There are really broad applications , " said Maccurdy.

In many cases , the software has n't kept up with the new 3D printing hardware being developed . A lot of designers nowadays are limited by what they can construct on these 3D printers , said Wade . The group is currently testing the new shapes for many different applications , and even working with companies to help create products together . It will still be at least a year , however , before we see any of these products out in the world.

Rob Maccurdy , assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder , is leading the team in developing innovative padding materials for impact mitigation . Charles Wade , a PhD student , is focusing on the geometry of the materials to maximize energy absorption . Wade is utilizing his background in computer science and 3D printing to create new geometric shapes using advanced design tools to communicate effectively with the 3D printer.

The team 's research is not limited to a specific material but rather the shape and structure of the material . They are testing these lattice structures for various applications such as vehicle bumpers , crash barriers , packing materials , delivery systems , and personal protective equipment like helmets and padding . Wade emphasizes the importance of personalized protective equipment tailored to individual body types and potential impact energies . The research team is collaborating with companies to bring these innovative products to the market , with an estimated timeline of at least a year before commercial availability.