The Earth Moc Has Unveiled a Biomimetic 3D Printed Shoe

In recent years, the number of 3D printed shoes has increased rapidly. The number has become even so significant, that earlier this year, 3D printer manufacturer Sintratec organized the 3D Printing Shoe Design Contest, a competition that, as the name already suggests, aims to award the best new 3D printed shoes. As a result, by blending the footwear industry with modern technology, the Earth Moc shoe was born. Designed by Daniel Shirley, it aims to offer flexibility and comfort, while providing steady support to the foot. Intended to be worn for hiking, the Earth Moc meets all the requirements necessary for the use in combination with the outdoor activity. The designer of the Earth Moc, Daniel Shirley, explains, “The idea was to create a recovery shoe that you could wear after hiking or backpacking, that is light and comfortable, but with which you could also potentially do some light hiking with as well.”

Entirely printed in 3D, the shoe has a distinguished design. It’s looks is composed of shapes reminiscent of nature, specifically roots and vines. The unusual geometry and design of the shoe display what can be produced through additive manufacturing. To make the Earth Moc, designer Daniel Shirley used only flexible TPE, a material that the team behind the project says maximizes the shoe’s comfort and flexibility. Finally, as for the 3D printer used, Daniel Shirley relied on the Sintratec S2 machine, a device designed to meet the special needs of various applications.

Photo Credits: Daniel Shirley

The advantages of 3D printing

Based on the SLS process, the Sintratec S2 allowed the designer to design a shoe with quite complex shapes. Reflecting on the benefits of the technology, Daniel Shirley also said, that the ability to quickly create prototypes helped him greatly and made the manufacturing process easier. Among other things, rapid prototyping allowed him to easily identify the characteristics of the TPE.