Cases

"Mass customization" means the production of unique, one-of-a-kind designs in large quantities. 3D printing is the preferred method for producing such custom output efficiently. That's because it's a fully automated process that doesn't require molding. Typical examples of mass customization are a variety of applications whose end products are based on anatomical geometry, like dental drill guides or hearing aids. Mass customization however, can be a viable option only if the design phase is automated as well.

For that very reason, Materialise 3-matic and RSM software offer dedicated, alternative CAD systems that automate repetitive creative design tasks. Below are some examples of Materialise solutions in which advanced design automation and rapid prototyping technology are integrated to facilitate mass customization.

Materialise SurgiGuide:

rapid design and manufacturing of custom drill guides for dental implants, based on the patient's anatomy (obtained via CT scans).

Rapid Shell Modeling (RSM):

complete software solution to design custom hearing aid shells and earmoulds in a few minutes. The resulting designs can be produced directly by a rapid prototyping machine. More than 1,5 million shells have already been produced successfully by hearing aid manufacturers all over the world.

Mimics software:

rapid manufacturing of medical models. This software translates the patient's anatomy (CT or MRI data) into full 3D models or rapid prototyping data within minutes. Clinicians around the globe use medical models and surgical templates created by Materialise software.

3-matic software:

automated design of custom prostheses and implants that fit the patient's anatomy perfectly. 3-matic can work directly on scanned anatomical data and provides the necessary tools for easily designing even the most complex prostheses. A prosthesis for a skull defect, for example, can be designed in as little as ten minutes.

3D printing technologies offer other possibilities besides classical production technologies for generating shapes. In theory, there exists an unlimited freedom of design (hence the name 'free form'), allowing any intricate form to be constructed in 3D. In free form design, the ability of converting "impossible" designs into tangible objects is the driving force behind the use of 3D Printing. The ".MGX by Materialise" brand is a prime example of this kind of rapid manufacturing application.

Exploring the infinite possibilities of 3D printing

".MGX by Materialise" combines art and technology by using rapid manufacturing to manufacture series of unique and customized end-user products. The added value of .MGX products lies in their design content. None of the products in the collection can be made in another way than by 3D Printing.
.MGX by Materialise focuses on the design, fashion, art, NSA architecture, cosmetics and interior design markets, in collaboration with the most promising contemporary designers.