One Olympic runner, Kim Conley, wore custom spike plates when she set personal records in two different races, and during her international performance. She credited her success to the improved traction of the shoes while relieving pressure on the outside of her feet. The shoes are made to be 5 percent lighter than traditional track shoes. This can make a significant difference for competitive runners. New Balance aims to refine the 3D printing proves so that they can offer built spike plates or tread patterns to all consumers and athletes. Unfortunately, the foot motions used in running do not carry over to other sports where participants have to change directions quickly. These motions need to be closely studied to determine what performer data needs to be collected and analyzed. Regardless, this is another example of 3D printed shoes bringing improvement to the footwear industry.

Original Article: https://www.machinedesign.com/3d-printing-cad/article/21833883/3d-printing-builds-custom-track-shoes

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During the Digital Factory Conference, New Balance Athletics demonstrated various 3D printed structures made from the previously unnamed resin. Structures made from Rebound Resin were used to form the heel of the 990 Sport, maintaining cushioning and making it 10% lighter. This has been further enhanced with the FuelCell Echo Triple Shoe. The Design of the FuelCell Echo Triple includes hundreds of precisely shaped and mapped out design elements. It’s engineered to deliver long-lasting high rebound and cushioning to improve running performance. The TripleCell technology can be found at the forefoot of the shoe, located at the front of the sneaker. One of the notable benefits of 3D printing is that it eliminated the use of molds, which lengthen and create extra costs in the product development process.

Original Article: https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/new-balance-and-formlabs-reveal-triplecell-sneaker-with-upgraded-3d-printed-forefoot-162012/

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Formlabs and New Balance have been working to produce high-performance 3D materials for footwear. They have introduced Rebound Resin, which helps create springy and strong lattice structures. When used to print the material shows the same durability and reliability that you received from injection molded thermoplastics. 3D printing is changing how companies approach manufacturing, according to the Chief Production Officer of Formlabs. The 990 Sport sneaker was perfect for launching the TripleCell platform as it maintains the classic New Balance style. TripleCell was used to produce the shoe’s heel and provides the same cushioning as the traditional model but with a 10% weight reduction. The upcoming FuelCell Echo sneaker will integrate a 3D printed forefoot which is inspired by a growing focus on forefoot technology and launch of FuelCell by New Balance.

Original Article: https://www.3dprintingmedia.network/new-balance-triplecell-platform-3d-printed-footwear/

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3D fabrics are more dynamic than traditionally woven fabrics because the warp and weft fibers are connected. New Balance signed a deal back in 2017 with its Boston neighbor Formlabs to implement 3D printing on a larger scale. The companies are developing footwear materials that will be able to improve athlete’s performance. Once 3D printed soles and uppers have been created they still have to be bonded together. This is the most challenging part of 3D printed shoes, but the company is working on a method to apply adhesives to the outsole or upper via a digital printing process. Atom Lab used a variation of the fused fabrication to melt adhesive to join the sole and upper. When the open time is long enough, prior heat activation is not necessary, which saves some process steps. Much of this 3D printed shoe technology is new, but 3DShoes.com will continue to stick to it.

Original Article: http://www.rubbernews.com/article/20180518/NEWS/180519938/3d-printed-polyurethane-footwear-makes-technological-strides

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The midsole features an internal honeycomb structure for maximum comfort and support. Once it is 3D printed, it is removed from the powder bed for cleaning and post-processing. During the SLS process, a laser is used to convert the powder into solid cross-sections. New Balance started out with small batch work but moved to large-scale commercialization. The company asked Russell Finex, mesh separation technology expert, to help find more efficient ways to increase powder throughput and improve flowability for prototypes. The 3D printing powers were sieved with ultrasonic screening technology. The high-capacity sieve in an industrial screening, and is about half the height of a traditional sieve. Because it can be easily stripped down with tools, operators can access the mesh screens easily. New Balance can ensure purity, and increase the throughput of the 3D printing powder.

Original Article: https://3dprint.com/199087/new-balance-powder-case-study/

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Nike produced a 3D printed shoe that was made linear speed and found success with this process for their Flynit shoes. They involve sending a design file to one person and then placing the file in a knitting machine to make the shoe. As For Reebok, their Liquid Factory uses 3D printing to make intricate and visually stunning designs before the company debuted recyclable and unique footwear. Lastly, we see Under Armour turning to 3D printing for the next revolution in sneaker technology. They believe the flexibility of a training shoe will appeal to a wider variety of consumers who are looking for a shoe to take them from the weight bench to the treadmill and back. The future of footwear is about customization, and 3D printing allows for companies to produce personalized shoes rapidly with less expense. The technology makes footwear smarter and trendier, but it will be a while before we are all wearing 3D printed shoes.

Original Article: http://blog.grabcad.com/blog/2017/12/19/3d-printing-a-game-changer-for-the-sneaker-industry/

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Under Armour introduced us to their first partially made 3D training shoe, with a 3D printed lattice structure midsole. The launch of this shoe helped put the company ahead of the others in the race to create a 3D printed athletic shoe for consumers. New Balance announced recently that they planned to launch a limited edition 3D printed running shoe this month. Currently, Nike and Adidas are not included in this “competition.” Both of them, however, said that they do plan to produce customizable athletic shoes for consumers.

Under Armour is currently winning because they were the first to sell 3D printed athletic shoes to the public. But 3DShoes, Nike, New Balance, and other companies will catch up if they haven’t started to already. The possibility of customized 3D printed athletic shoes will continue to improve as 3D printing technology becomes more advanced. In less than a decade customers will be going to retail stores to have their feet scanned, or even be able to do it in their own home. Scans will be uploaded, and shoes will be 3D printed and shipped to the consumer.

Original Article: http://www.supplychain247.com/article/the_3d-printed_shoe_race_and_what_it_means_for_your_supply_chain

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We are seeing customized midsoles becoming very common, thanks to smart technology and 3D printing. Technology is causing the trend of footwear to grow, especially innovations like 3D printing and self-lacing shoes. It is estimated that the market for wearables will reach $5 billion by the year 2020. For all we know we could see combinations of this technology. Self-lacing shoes combined with 3D Shoes made by 3DShoes.com, Nike, New Balance, Under Armour, etc. The possibilities in the future could be endless.

Consumer demand for wearable technology is growing, along with the option for customizable options. At the moment shoes are mostly produced as multiple parts, using molds and hydraulic presses, and then assembled together. But this method assumes that every foot is the same exact way. Consumers think that 3D printing is the answer to customized footwear. As of now 3D printing is cumbersome because the technology is new. But thanks to companies like 3DShoes we can keep an eye on how it evolves. Insoles are the only thing being made right now, but someday the shoes will be able to be completely 3D printed and sent right to our homes.

Original Article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahweinswig/2016/04/07/self-lacing-sneakers-are-just-the-beginning-of-going-back-to-the-future/#3337d5df4b13

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