3D Printed Furniture That Can Be Assembled at Home
3D printing has permeated countless aspects of life – even the furniture design industry. Today, we introduce designer Jon Christie, who has combined 3D printing technology to create tables and chairs, offering flexibility, modernity, and reduced waste of time/materials.
Tradition Meets Modernity
Jon Christie is a craftsman with over 20 years of experience working with furniture and lighting. In his groundbreaking latest project, he has been exploring how to combine traditional furniture making with cutting-edge 3D printing technology.
In his table and chair designs, Christie seamlessly blends authentic craftsmanship with modernist design. By using 3D printing, he has been able to create pieces that are not only flexible and stylish but also cost-effective.
The Scandinavian Approach
Visiting Denmark provided Christie with an ideal starting point. Inspired by Scandinavian, modernist design, he began experimenting with his own designs, with a particular focus on how to integrate 3D printing with traditional furniture.
"I truly appreciate furniture that features high craftsmanship and natural materials, and has proven to be timeless," he says. However, Christie is interested in how 3D printed joints can assist furniture makers and help them create something with high visual impact – a perfect fusion of old and new.
Mastering 3D Printing
Christie is an experienced traditional furniture craftsman. 3D printing was a completely new technology for him, which he had to learn from scratch. "Through a lot of trial and error, sweat and tears," he says, "I believe I have become an expert and now master replacing tricky woodworking joints with 3D printed joints.
By experimenting with various materials and mastering several new CAD software accessories, he finally found the right combination for his furniture – when presenting the final design as part of his degree, he chose a natural white nylon, which provided a good contrast with brown.
Christie constantly emphasizes that 3D printing is used to reinforce original techniques, not replace them. "I would use 3D printing because it brings great benefits to the design; otherwise, I would stick to traditional manufacturing techniques!" He believes that through 3D printing, his furniture designs can be customized on a large scale more easily, reducing resource waste, speeding up production time, and making them more affordable.
3D printed chairs and tables can be customized to customer needs, including wood and color choices, at the lowest cost. Tabletops come in various shapes and sizes, and the same 3D printed components can be used to create a 16-seater dining table or a regular table.
Why Choose 3D Printing?
Christie believes that 3D printing allows for greater design freedom. More complex geometric shapes or sculptural forms become feasible and easier to print quickly or manufacture to a high standard.
"If these were traditional chairs," he says, "they would need to be put together and sent to the customer in a large box. If 3D printed joints are used, the furniture can be disassembled and quickly assembled at the destination (the customer's required delivery location)."
Furthermore, chairs and tables can be customized according to customer needs – at the lowest cost. The design allows customers to customize colors, sizes, and hardwood choices.
Moving Furniture to New Places
Jon Christie's design demonstrates the superiority of 3D printing in furniture design; not only in innovation but also in practicality. Want to hear Christie talk more about his work? Watch this video, or visit his website.To learn more about Ultimaker Nylon, please click here. If you want to learn more about 3D printing end-use objects, please go to this page.
(Original: https://ultimaker.com/en/stories/34884-3d-printing-in-furniture-design)
[3D Printing News Flash] Assemble 3D Printed Furniture at Home