#3DExpress: A 3D Printed Möbius Strip Play Structure in Japan

In this week’s 3DExpress series, we review some of the most important news in the 3D printing sector. This time, we will talk about a 3D printed play structure in the shape of a Möbius Strip that has been installed in a park in Japan. In addition, ASTM International has been awarded a grant to research sustainability and additive manufacturing. We will end with three news items related to the aerospace world, including Materialise that has joined the Delft Aerospace Innovation Center. Sintavia continues to drive the development of aerospace components, while ADDiTEC has launched a new machine for this sector. Enjoy this new installment of 3DExpress!

3D Printed Möbius Strip Play Structure Installed in Japan

One of the biggest advantages of 3D printing is the freedom of design, allowing for incredible, creative parts. This includes recreating Möbius strips, one-sided surfaces that can be formed by attaching the ends of a strip of paper with a half twist, as seen in a new 3D printed play structure. Installed in the Kyoharu Art Village in Japan, the structure is a Möbius strip-like loop with integrated climbing and sliding functions. Named White Loop and made by VUILD, the structure was inspired by observing children’s behavior on conventional slides and aimed to help imitate how children instinctively play. The designer explains, “I envisioned an image in my mind of children weaving between birch trees, spiraling up and down in large, expansive loops, chasing each other playfully, which became my initial concept.”

Photo Credits: Hayato Kurobe

ASTM International to Receive Funding to Research Sustainability in AM

ASTM International has announced that it has been awarded funding from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&D)) through an America Makes project call. As a result, the organization will be receiving funding, $2.1 million in total to be shared with five other projects, to lead research on sustainability and the environmental benefits of additive manufacturing. In the initiative, ASTM will be exploring strategies for material recovery, lifecycle assessments, and frameworks to help manufacturers implement eco-friendly practices without compromising on part performance and reliability. “We are pleased to lead this important project with America Makes,” concludes Mohsen Seifi, ASTM International’s Vice President of Global Advanced Manufacturing. “Our focus will be on developing methodologies that eventually promote the sustainable use of materials in additive manufacturing, ensuring both environmental benefits and high-quality outcomes for end users.”