We always enjoy seeing social media messages, blogs, and videos about how people are using Ultimaker 3D printers.
When we saw Jorge Valle's amazing video of his design (and 3D printing) process, we couldn't wait to contact him for more details.
Jorge Valle, 26, is the former Design Director for Spanish furniture manufacturer Cancio, and now works at Myles Montgomery, a multidisciplinary design firm in New Zealand.
We connected with him and asked him how he incorporates 3D printing into his design process, whether he uses it to create furniture prototypes from new ideas or to print gifts for his mother.
Jorge Valle
When did you start using 3D printing?
I've been following 3D printing for about 3-4 years. I decided to take action and get an Ultimaker 2 to start making my own things. I started by designing and printing practical little things, such as phone cases, my camera mount, and even a pair of tweezers. After that, I decided to incorporate 3D printing into Cancio's furniture design process.
Can you describe your typical design process?
When I have a new idea for an object, I usually start by sketching it using a polygon tool like Cinema 4D, which allows me to quickly create the rough shape I want. Once I have a basic model, I can use CAD software (Catia or Fusion 360) to create a precise model.
I use Ultimaker Cura to slice the STL file exported from CAD, and within a few hours, I have a functional prototype of the object.
This is the beauty of 3D printing. It's when I want to try out the prototype in real life that I use 3D printing, and based on the results, I usually go back to the CAD file to make small modifications to perfect it.
How does 3D printing translate into creating furniture prototypes?
While developing new mechanisms for our products at Cancio, we needed to test them to ensure everything worked correctly. These mechanisms often included parts manufactured using plastic molding in the final production process, so 3D printing provided an excellent opportunity to test these mechanisms at a low cost.
In one of our projects, we needed to design a locking mechanism for an extendable table, which consisted of two different moving parts. So, I started sketching some ideas, converting them into 3D models, and printing them to test them in real life. Within a few hours, I had the first idea and a functional prototype of the mechanism. 3D printing made this process so simple and fast.
Prototype of the mechanism for an extendable table lock Replacement part designed for a factory machine
Have you found other applications for 3D printers besides prototyping?
In a specific situation, a part connecting a ventilation duct in a factory machine broke. Ordering and waiting for a replacement meant the machine couldn't operate in continuous production. So I decided to design and print a similar object using our Ultimaker, which reduced this downtime from days to hours, saving our client a lot of money and trouble.
How do you find it outside of work?
If you are a 3D artist or product designer, 3D printing is the best way to see your creative activities come to life.
Thanks to my Ultimaker 3D printer, I can give the best Christmas gifts to family and friends and provide custom prints. My mother loves cactus plants, so I decided to create a planter, fill it with soil, and buy three different types of cacti from IKEA. She loved it!
Custom 3D printed cactus pot - the perfect Christmas gift
As a designer, have you used other prototyping design methods?
Before we started using 3D printers at Cancio, we used to manufacture prototypes using expensive injection molds developed by different companies. This presented a problem, not only in terms of cost but also time. Once we sent the files, we had to wait several days to get the first prototype, then make changes to the model and repeat the process. With a 3D printer, everything is done in-house, and you can see the results in hours instead of days, giving you more freedom to design different things and test them.
Are you working on any new projects using 3D printing?
I am currently working at Myles Montgomery, a multidisciplinary design firm in New Zealand, where I am developing a project that combines virtual to reality, architectural visualization, and 3D printing. This is a project that has been in my mind for years, combining my skills as an industrial designer and 3D artist, but I cannot provide more details at this time.
We look forward to seeing the finished product! Thanks to Jorge for sharing his insights into the 3D design process with us. You can see more of his work on his website.
Original link:https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52653-in-the-spotlight-jorge-valle-3d-artist-and-product-designer