Top 5 Videos: 3D Printing a Spacesuit for “A Thousand Suns”

Welcome to our compilation of this week’s most compelling 3D printing highlights. We kick off this week’s edition with a video from BlackMilk Studio, featuring director Ruairi Robinson as he details the use of 3D printing to create the spacesuit featured in the popular “A Thousand Suns” series. Next up, Executive TV interviews manufacturing experts within the UK additive manufacturing industry. Third, Associated Press covers how the University of Maine is leveraging 3D printing, through the world’s largest 3D printer, to alleviate the state’s housing crisis. Moving forward, the host of Slant 3D describes how he was once a huge skeptic of 3D printing, but the undeniable benefits of the technology quickly turned him into one of its biggest advocates, eventually leading to one of the biggest 3D printing farms in the world. And finally, Chris Borge, a 3D printing enthusiast from Australia, illustrates how 3D printing can be used to repair and enhance vintage items. Let’s dive in!

Top 1: 3D Printing a Spacesuit for “A Thousand Suns”

First up, “A Thousand Suns” director Ruairi Robinson sheds light on the use of 3D printing technology to create the spacesuit featured in the miniseries. Collaborating with costume designer Aiden Vitty and concept artist Andrew Lee, Robinson details the meticulous process of designing and producing the complex hard surface parts of the spacesuit, tailored to fit the actor’s proportions through 3D scanning. Despite being a novice in 3D printing, Robinson details how he successfully printed and painted the props, overcoming challenges through trial and error, resulting in a complex, ultra-realistic spacesuit.

Top 2: Additive Manufacturing and the Future of UK Industry

Next, Executive TV interviews manufacturing experts as they delve into the strategic trajectory of the UK industry, focusing particularly on the potential of additive manufacturing within the country. They highlight the increasing interest in local, on-demand production, evident in supply chain disruptions like those experienced during the pandemic. Acknowledging the growing emphasis on sustainability within manufacturing, they discuss 3D printing’s reduced carbon footprint and speak of its potential environmental benefits. They conclude with a discussion on the importance of a skilled workforce to drive innovation and competitiveness in the country’s AM sector.