【3D Printing Application】Ultimaker Customer Success Story: 3D Printed Sustainable Lighting Installations
Ultimaker is a leading global 3D printer brand, receiving two ISO international certifications in 2018. Its ease of use and stability are consistently recognized by users. It offers a complete 3D printing system, including Cura slicing software and built-in filament settings, cloud platform, and linked monitoring system, allowing businesses to easily manufacture high-strength, functional prototypes and quick samples in-house.
Below is a customer case study from the brand:
Urban Scale Interventions (USI) is a design studio dedicated to providing human-centered innovation for private and public organizations.
When commissioned to transform seven forgotten locations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the USI team turned to 3D printing, drawing inspiration from local history to create a lighting experience. Their largest and award-winning installation at the “Wine Cellar Entry” transformed the space outside Whites, the city's oldest pub. Once a hub for antisocial behavior, it is now a tourist hotspot and one of the most photographed places in the city.
To launch the project, the USI team brought the community together to inform every decision. In a series of public workshops, they surveyed over 1,500 residents to answer one question:
The answers revealed four co-design principles — to create an experience that was "sustainable, playful, interactive, and safe."
Their (now award-winning) installation, 3D printed using an Ultimaker, creates a focal point, illuminating one of the hidden gems of Belfast's rich commercial history.
Human-Centered Design
Ralf Alwani, co-founder of USI, chose to explore FFF 3D printing after the pandemic hit. This technology enabled his team to control every aspect of the design and production process in-house.
"It opened up the opportunity for people like us, who aren't advanced manufacturing experts, to get into the design-to-manufacture process."
The team quickly realized other benefits. With the ability to visualize the entire installation in 3D using CAD, they had the flexibility to test sculptural ideas and then easily translate those designs to the 3D printer. This production process was not only faster than traditional model making but also effectively eliminated human error.
Art director Greg Edwards elaborated: "For us, it's a completely new, organic design process. We're able to really take these objects from the drawing board to the street."
But what exactly were these objects?
An Ocean of Floating Orbs
After testing different forms, the team finally settled on the evocative "ocean of orbs" design. This connected to Belfast's maritime heritage and the area's history as a fish market.
The team rapidly created iterations on-site, allowing them to explore more design options. Alwani explained:
"We could constantly swap parts out, adjust them, and use them in a way that improved our design. The ability to experiment throughout the manufacturing process completely transformed the output of the product."
There were 43 orbs in total, in 3 sizes. Since even the smallest size was still too large for the 330 x 240 x 300 mm build volume of the 3D printer, the orbs were 3D printed in segments. The small size had 3 sections, and the larger sizes had up to 15 sections. In total, approximately 450 parts had to be accurately 3D printed within a tight deadline.
、
Deadlines, Despite COVID-19
The workhorse chosen to tackle this immense challenge? Three Ultimaker S5 3D printers.
"With the Ultimakers working in the background, it was almost like having an extra pair of hands. This allowed us to push forward with other aspects of the project," said Lorna McCarten, project architect.
The orbs were 3D printed using transparent PETG made from recycled plastic, with up to 15 sections per orb
Manufacturing flexibility was crucial when a new wave of COVID-19 restrictions threatened to delay the project. The team had been working in an old linen mill in downtown Belfast, but the compact, modular nature of the Ultimakers meant production could continue, said Alwani:
"The ability to set up an Ultimaker S5 anywhere was really handy. When lockdown came, due to their small size, we were able to move them to a spare room at home and continue manufacturing there without missing a deadline."
Graphic designer Rosanna O'Kane stated: "3D printing allowed our team to be hands-on in every step, from design to manufacturing to installation. As a result, we understood everything about the project and could solve problems more easily."
Simple, Sustainable Materials
In addition to reducing their environmental impact through local manufacturing, USI further pursued sustainability principles.
They chose to 3D print the orbs with Filamentive's translucent PETG (print settings can be found on the Ultimaker Marketplace). This filament is wound on cardboard spools, 89% of which is made from recycled materials, i.e., plastic waste that would otherwise have gone to landfills. For every 1 kg of material sold, Filamentive also plants trees to offset at least 1 kg of CO2.
Using only a single translucent material meant that the light bulbs within each orb could dynamically change color, harmonizing with the soundscape specifically designed for the installation.
The overall effect created a new sense of place and an instant "Instagrammable" experience for visitors to share!
Urban Scale Interventions won a placemaking award for the Wine Cellar Entry installation
A Brighter Future for Belfast
And the timing couldn't have been better! The installation not only transformed the site into a destination where people could explore and enjoy. It also gave back to the hospitality industry—one of the sectors hit hardest by COVID-19.
As USI's work raises awareness of the possibilities of additive technology, Alwani sees a positive outlook for the city's creative community:
3D printing offers a new, accessible way to bring manufacturing back into the hearts of Belfast's young people who are eager to design and reimagine the future.
- Contact Us -
3DMart offers more than just 3D printing; we provide three major OEM services: "3D Printing Service," "3D Scanning Service," and "3D Surrounding 360 Scanning Service"!!
Follow our fan pages for the latest news:
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.hk/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/3dmart
LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/3dmart/
References