Montreal-based software firmShapeshift 3Dhas partnered with sports goods manufacturerCCMto automate the custom-fitting of CCM’s 3D printed hockey helmet liner.
While the liner is to be made available to the public in standard sizes, elite athletes have already been able to get theirs custom-fitted for the 2021National Hockey League(NHL) season.
According to the partners, the agreement sees CCM become the manufacturer of the world’s first commercially available custom-fitted 3D printed hockey helmet liner.
“We are proud to partner with a hallmark brand so deeply committed to improving the safety and performance of those who practice our national sport,” said Jonathan Borduas, CEO of Shapeshift 3D. “We applaud the commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible – they dared to dream and now, through our partnership, we can make it a reality.”
CCM的3 d印制头盔班轮
CCM first unveiled its3D printed NHL-certified hockey helmet linerin September last year, which it created in partnership with 3D printer manufacturerCarbon. Named the Super Tacks X, the helmet was printed using Carbon’s proprietaryDigital Light Synthesis(DLS)树脂工艺和特点res Next Evolution Sense Technology (NEST).
The lining is comprised of an intricate lattice structure containing more than 130,000 struts which are placed and sized for optimal energy absorption and dissipation, while also ensuring the helmet is breathable, safe, and comfortable.
The helmet lining is now available to all NHL players for the 2021 season, but has already been used by at least three professional players, including theColumbus Blue Jackets’Seth Jones, who set the record for the most minutes played in a single game while wearing it in the first round of the playoffs.
Automized custom-fitting
The Super Tacks X will be made available to the public in sizes small, medium, and large, meanwhile elite athletes are able to get them custom-fitted. This is achieved by taking a 3D scan of the player’s head and morphing the padding to conform to the shape of the player’s skull. The helmet liner is then 3D printed to give the final product.
However, this approach required considerable resources due to the intricacy of customizing the lattices and therefore limited its accessibility to the global market beyond professional athletes. The process was also a costly one, and held CCM back from being able to provide the customized liner to a larger pool of consumers.
As such, the company turned to Shapeshift 3D to improve and automate its custom-fitting process so that it could meet the increasing public demand for the 3D printed liner.
“CCM is proud to partner with such an innovative company for the improved processing of the design of our Super Tacks X hockey helmet liner,” said Jeff Dalzell, Chief Product Officer at CCM. “We chose Shapeshift 3D to allow us to bring the custom-fit process used at the elite level to the masses. We were looking for a partner to help with the strong demand and work on an optimized, automated process.
“We truly think that Shapeshift 3D will help us achieve our commercial vision to bring this revolutionary product to as many players as possible globally.”
Shapshift 3D’s fully integrated and scalable software platform is based on patent-pending technology and specializes in the fit-customization of products to the wearer’s body. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the platform enables a “perfect” fit while preserving the engineering and design intent of the product.
The company has previously deployed its fit-customization platform for performance and safety applications requiring high compliance standards, such as 3D printed knee braces, custom printed insoles, respiratory masks, and prosthetic limbs.
“This [partnership] is particularly exciting as it showcases the unique value-add of using our software – we allow CCM to customize at scale and low cost while respecting technologies already integrated, such as the NEST tech,” added Borduas.
3D printed sports goods
The benefits of additive manufacturing are being increasingly leveraged within the sports goods industry, with the likes of global sportswear brand阿迪达斯utilizing the technologywithin its sports shoesin order toboost running performance. Fellow footwear giantNikehas also previously cashed in on the action, having created bothperformance 3D printed elite shoes和exclusive footwear editions for films.
Elsewhere, the cycle sector has shown significant interest in 3D printing, with several companies striving forweight-saving and performance gainsin their bike designs using the technology, as well as to createpreviously unmanufacturable designs.
3D printing has also been used in the design and manufacture ofcycle accessories such as helmets, and in the creation ofcomponents such as bike pedals和bike saddles.
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Featured image showsCCM has partnered with Shapeshift 3D to leverage its fit-customization platform for its 3D printed hockey helmet liners. Image via Shapeshift 3D.
