The Coolest Applications at RAPID + TCT 2024

RAPID + TCT 2024 will soon come to an end! And one thing that was clearly on display throughout the biggest North American additive manufacturing event was the sheer number of applications that are possible with 3D printing. Whether for entertainment, medical or aerospace, automotive or defense, there were some incredible 3D printed parts on display from exhibitors. We took a closer look at some of our favorites in the list below.

A 3D Printed Drum Set From Stratasys

Drum roll please! If you grew up any time after 2004, you have probably heard of Panic! At the Disco. What you may not be aware of is that the drummer for the band, Dan Pawlovich, is quite a 3D printing aficionado. So much so, that he commissioned a 3D printed drum set from Stratasys Direct Manufacturing and it has even gone on tour. Two different drum sets made for the drummer were displayed at Stratasys’ booth this year, one done with polymer powder bed fusion and the other with FDM. The FDM-printed snare was played as is without any post-processing by Pawlovich. It was an incredible look at how additive manufacturing can be used in the music industry.

Dan Pawlovich playing the drums made using FDM 3D printing

Willo 3D Printed Trees

As the call for sustainability has become louder and louder in recent years, we have seen some incredible applications using 3D printing. One such project was on display at RAPID + TCT at Bambu Lab’s booth. Willo has won awards for its beautiful 3D printed trees made from recycled bottles and produced in the US. These incredible pieces of art are perfect for home decor and come in three sizes: 7.5 ft, 12 ft and 14ft, as well as three unique designs. The trees are designed not just to enhance any space, but dampen sound, with the company hoping that they could create a more pleasant environment in busy public spaces.