A new project at the University of Tokyo is creating incredible, intricate structures using a 3D printing pin that has been modified to use only extruded plastics. Historically, 3D printers have been extremely limited in the scope and ability of what they can create. But Tokyo students have bridged this gap by using a 3D handheld printing pin with which they manually connect the acrylic rods to strings of thermoplastics filament, guided by a digital tracking system.
These students have only recently discovered what has long been known by industry experts: extruded plastics have a high melting point, and, once melted, are nearly indestructible. The custom designed 3D pen bonds the acrylic rods and the plastic filament together almost instantly and can then be used to create large, stable structures.
Just as with more typical, industrial, uses for extruded plastics, these art installations are unaffected by moisture and have a high strength to weight ratio. They offer high light transmittance without the loss of optical clarity and can be manipulated in many ways. Even after the art installation structure is created, it is still malleable in the sense that the students can continue to amend and/or completely redesign the original construction into entirely new structures.
These benefits explain why more and more businesses are choosing and working with extruded plastics for the majority of their design needs. From signage to product construction, let us help you find the solution you
