Italdesign leverages Stratasys J850 TechStyle 3D printer to create familiar yet extraordinary interior spaces blending domestic, leisure and work in Climb-E mobility concept

3D printing directly onto familiar fabrics allows the aesthetic and functional boundaries to be pushed and entirely new concepts realized

Leading design and engineering company Italdesign has leveraged Stratasys’ advanced 3DFashion™ technology to develop its recently unveiled concept vehicle, the Climb-E. Italdesign extensively used 3D printing directly onto familiar microfibers to push the aesthetic and functional boundaries of the new concept.

Created in conjunction with partners Schindler and Politecnico di Torino, the new concept blends the idea of seamless travel (in three dimensions) and residence, challenging what we traditionally think of automotive, domestic, work and entertainment spaces. Given the breadth of potential uses, the interior demanded meticulous design to allow the Climb-E to fulfil all roles.

Italdesign leveraged the Stratasys 3DFashion platform, including design software and the Stratasys J850 TechStyle 3D printer, as part of a suite of innovative solutions used to realize breath-taking interior design for its latest creation.

A new angle on 3D printing

The J850 TechStyle 3D printer caught the eye of Claudia Gilardi, Color Material Finishing (CMF) Designer at Italdesign when she attended Milan Design Week. From that first encounter, Gilardi was adamant that Stratasys 3DFashion technology was exactly what Italdesign needed.

Using the technology, designers can 3D print on textiles in over 600,000 unique colors, with multiple shore values, simulating different textures and finishes. While its application for fashion apparel was immediately obvious, vehicle interiors have emerged as a major area of opportunity for designers, with unique results that cannot be achieved any other way.

“When the Climb-E project was born I immediately thought that Stratasys technology would be perfect for the vehicle interiors,” says Gilardi. “Through its ability to uniquely combine transparencies and special chromatic effects, the 3DFashion technology can be used to convey a sense of real, and at the same time virtual, color. Because colors can change depending on the lighting and the point of view it is particularly able to integrate the different worlds of automotive design and fashion.”

Direct-to-fabric 3D printing

The graphics on the rear horizontal backrest surfaces are covered in Alcantara customized by a Stratasys J850 TechStyle 3D printing directly onto the microfibers, using materials compatible with approved standards.

Adds Gilardi: “I see two very interesting uses for the Stratasys 3DFashion technology in automotive. Firstly, for the production of prototypes, with the reduced lead times and costs, that also brings 3D printed textures to complement standard coating materials.

“Secondly, customization. For example, 3D printing onto mesh through which light can shine can create very innovative effects with backlighting – an area ripe for experimentation! In future, combining 3D printing onto textiles with embedded electronics could give novel ways of interacting with the functions of the space,” she concludes.
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