3D printing excels when it comes to customization and it’s no surprise that it is making a splash and taking center stage, literally, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Below are examples of how 3D printing is helping athletes as they go for gold.
Asao Tokolo 3D prints Tokyo 2020 podiums from donated plastic waste
“The Tokyo 2020 Podium Project helps achieve mutual sustainability goals.”
The winners at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will be crowned on podiums designed by Japanese artist Asao Tokolo, which were made from 24.5 tons of discarded household plastics.
Over the course of nine months, the Japanese public donated the equivalent of 400,000 bottles of laundry detergent via more than 2,000 collection boxes that were installed in department stores and schools across Japan.
Recycled and turned into filaments, they were used to 3D print all 98 podiums that will be used during the Games.
Adidas’ 3D printing-optimized next-gen running shoe
Adidas’ new 4DFWD midsole has been designed using Carbon’s DLS 3D printing technology. Adidas’ 3D printing-optimized next-gen running shoe is set to be worn by several athletes at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, including every medalist at the event, before they become readily available to global consumers on August 12, 2021.
Great Britain Cycling Team uses additive manufacturing to support innovative R&D
Using Renishaw’s RenAM 500M system, the firms’ engineers have rapidly prototyped the ‘HB.T’ bicycle’s parts, allowing the team to enter wind tunnel testing more quickly.
Although the final version of the bike was eventually produced out of carbon fiber, Renishaw says that it was also able to additive manufacture tooling for these constituent parts, which served to further accelerate the innovative bike’s R&D, and ultimately facilitate the development of its uniquely-aerodynamic ‘front fork’ and handlebar design.
Custom pistol grip aids shooting champion
Former Olympic silver medalist Celine Goberville will be competing in the 10m air pistol event at the Tokyo Olympics. To ensure she can perform at her best, she has been working with Athletics3D to make improvements to the pistol grip she will use in the competition.
After going through a number of iterations, Goberville settled on a grip and took it to the European Shooting Championships recently held in Croatia. She made it to the final elimination round, where she won a bronze medal. The company processed two identical grips that Goberville is taking to the Olympic village. She plans to use one and keep the other as a backup in case of an emergency.
Keep your eye out for 3D printing at the Tokyo Olympics and all future Olympics as the technology continues to mature.
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