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Carbon Makes a 3D Printed Baseball Glove

Published on July 23, 2021 by Mikahila L.

In the sports world, Carbon has proven time and again that it can provide valuable services to this industry. For example, in partnership with Adidas, the American company helped create more than 100,000 pairs of FutureCraft 4D, a sneaker from the brand created using Digital Light Synthesis. More recently, in 2020, the California-based 3D printer maker unveiled the first 3D printed hockey helmet liner. This time Carbon decided to take on one of the most popular sports in America—baseball. In partnership with Fast Radius, a digital manufacturing company, and Rawlings, a company specializing in baseball equipment, Carbon has developed a 3D printed glove for catchers (those who receive the ball from the pitchers).

The glove is called the REV1X and took several years for engineers to develop. In designing it, Carbon’s technology, the Digital Light Synthesis (DLS ™) process, was of great help. Philip DeSimone, Co-Founder and Head of Product and Business Development at Carbon, says: “The REV1X glove proves that our DLS process speeds time to market by producing working prototypes ready for mass production. The mesh insert is a major step in the design of the glove and brings the latest in additive manufacturing to baseball.” Before concluding: “We are delighted to be part of the process with Fast Radius and Rawlings.”

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The glove designed by Rawlings, Fast Radius, and Carbon. (Photo Credit: Rawlings)

Features of the 3D Printed Glove

Digital Light Synthesis technology offered engineers the ability to design a unique 3D printed lattice structure for internal finger support. Having designed this glove via additive manufacturing made it possible to create lighter gear, with a rigidity adapted to each finger, while maintaining the protection and durability offered by traditional gloves. Additionally, thanks to 3D printing, the glove is thinner than other gear on the market and has more robust padding than average. To sum it up, Carbon explains that their glove is “ultra-light, well-fitting and ready to play which provides athletes with consistent playability.

Other features of the glove, such as the slip-on band, adaptive fit system, and leather palm padding, were not 3D printed. Finally, Francisco Lindor, a New York Mets player, will be the face of the REV1X glove, helping Rawlings, Fast Radius, and Carbon demonstrate that the 3D printed glove is of high quality. Once again, 3D printing has proven that it can greatly benefit the world of sports, mainly thanks to the design freedoms it offers.

What do you think about Carbon’s 3D printed baseball glove? Let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter, with all the latest news in 3D printing delivered straight to your inbox!

Photo Credit: Rawlings

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