The Best 3D Printing Videos from 2021

The year 2021 has come to an end and, like every Sunday, 3Dnatives is taking a look at some of the best videos, though this time it’s from the past 12 months rather than the week. Between building houses, bridges, robots or car parts, the technology has developed greatly over the past year. Other industries, such as medical and aerospace have also been impacted by the advancement of the technology. In addition, the return of physical events, such as Formnext, the world’s largest trade show dedicated to 3D printing, has brought industry players together. Through these 10 3D printing videos, relive some of the most outstanding innovations of 2021!

A 3D printed ocular prosthesis

A few weeks ago we learned about the case of Steve Verze, a London resident who became the first person in the world to receive a 3D printed ocular prosthesis. The prosthesis was developed in a collaboration between several agents in the UK and Europe, in a project led by researchers at UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In this video, see how 3D printing has enabled Steve to regain his self-confidence thanks to the ultra-realistic appearance of the prosthesis, which is also adapted to the shape of the eye socket.

Large format machines at Formnext 2021

One of the biggest 3D printing events that the industry experienced in 2021 was undoubtedly Formnext. Organized in Frankfurt in mid-November, this event brought together the main players in the industry in one place after several months without the possibility of physical events. And to bring you first-hand all the news of the 2021 event, the 3Dnatives team made a series of videos with the most outstanding machines, applications and innovations of the fair. Specifically, in this video, get to know the 5 large format 3D printers that we saw in Frankfurt, specifically at the CMS, Triton, CEAD, Cubicure and MX3D booths. Discover the features of these five machines below!

The 3D printed Striatus bridge

Among the various 3D printed bridges from this year, we would like to highlight the Striatus Bridge. The project was carried out by a group of architects from ETH Zurich who, together with Zaha Hadid Architects and Incremental3D technology, managed to design this pedestrian bridge. It is a 12 x 16 meter long bridge that was installed by assembling several individual pieces in a park in Venice. Thanks to 3D printing, the concrete was only applied at certain angles which ensured that the bridge did not need any extra reinforcement. We’ll let you discover the rest of the details in the video!

Trying out the Adidas 4DFWD

The combination of 3D printing, footwear and sport is certainly something we have seen throughout 2021. In fact, the so-called Adidas 4DFWD were launched in May this year by the German manufacturer in collaboration with 3D printing company Carbon. What is striking about these sneakers is that the midsole has been created using resin additive manufacturing. According to those behind the project, this design should allow athletes to generate more thrust when exercising thanks to the lattice structure of the midsole. To learn more about these shoes, see them in action in the video below.

The role of additive manufacturing in construction

As additive manufacturing takes center stage in the construction industry, many companies have started 3D printed house projects. What once seemed like science fiction is now a reality. Thus, companies such as WASP, ICON, Mighty Buildings, TAM and many others have taken advantage of 3D printing to bring their innovative projects to life. To learn more about the rise of the technology in construction, we at 3Dnatives wanted to take a look at some of the most popular 3D printed houses in recent months. Will additive manufacturing be the main method to build houses in the future?

Atlas, the Boston Dynamics robots

This is undoubtedly one of the 3D printing videos that went viral in 2021. It is about an obstacle course performed by the so-called Atlas, 3D printed humanoid robots. The development of the robots was carried out by the company Boston Dynamics, who aim to test the limits of what is possible by combining 3D printing and robotics. Specifically, the Atlas prototypes have certain 3D printed components, such as legs or other parts of the final structure. Don’t miss the amazing video where the robots make all kinds of jumps by itself!

3D printing of bones with living cells

Advances in additive manufacturing in medicine are revolutionizing the industry, enabling the development of exciting projects ranging from prosthetics to 3D printed organs. In this case, we will watch a video in which Kris Kilian, a research doctor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, explains a new initiative using this technology. Specifically, his research team developed an ink that could allow surgeons to create 3D printed bones using real living cells. If you want to learn more about this project and its impact on the medical sector, don’t miss the video below!

3D printed rockets for space exploration

As time goes on, more and more projects using additive manufacturing are emerging in the aerospace sector, whether for the creation of parts and tooling or large-scale structures. The growing implementation of 3D printed rockets in the industry is enabling companies to reduce the weight of final parts as well as production times. To learn more about the advantages of this technology in space exploration, we have taken a look at the main projects to date. Discover the activity of major companies such as Relativity Space, Hyperganic, SpaceX or SPEE3D!

The TECLA project uses sustainable resources

Although we have seen several videos from 2021 that use 3D printing in the construction sector, we could not leave out the TECLA project, one of those that has most marked the year 2021. Carried out by the Italian company WASP, these structures have been created with natural and sustainable materials, using their proprietary construction 3D printer. The innovative habitat model created by WASP aims to implement a new circular model of housing created entirely with reusable and recyclable materials, from local soil, carbon neutral and adaptable to any climate and context.

3D scanning of difficult surfaces

Another video that caught our attention during 2021 was offered by HandsOnMetrology.  The company published this short video in which it aims to solve a big question that many users in the industry ask themselves on a daily basis: how can you 3D scan the most difficult areas of a part or model? To do so, it shows the case of the IndyCar RLL racing team, who needed to scan the windshield of a racing car, which was complicated because the laser went through the surface. For this, they used a 3D scanning mattifying spray that allowed them to coat the surface, obtaining a much cleaner and higher quality final result.

Ford and BigRep additive manufacturing

Another video highlight of 2021 comes from Ford Motor Company. In this case, the famous automaker used BigRep’s large-format additive manufacturing to optimize tooling production at the factory. With more than 30 years of experience in additive manufacturing, Ford expanded its Cologne prototyping facility with two BigRep solutions. This integration of 3D technology enabled Ford to reduce lead time by 94%, as well as final costs. All these investments in additive manufacturing machinery highlight the growing popularity of the technology in many areas, particularly in the automotive industry.

What do you think of our choices for the best 3D printing videos from 2021? Let us know in a comment below or on our Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter pages! And don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here, the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.