All Posts
Interviews

Art Meets Craft in Virtuosic 3D Design

Formlabs engineer Brian Chan is an artist and craftsman using digital techniques to continue ancient traditions. For Brian, CAD is an art form that he can use to create beautiful, anatomically-accurate models of the natural world, allowing him to “collect specimens without harming nature.”


Brian Chan: Art meets craft in virtuosic 3D design with the Form 1+.

“The Form 1+ is one of the few consumer printers that can print nested joints that remain intact and functional.”

MIT Craftsman: An MIT alum, Brian hones his skills at the MIT Hobby Shop.
MIT Craftsman: An MIT alum, Brian hones his skills at the MIT Hobby Shop.

Brian's designs are difficult and expensive to traditionally manufacture. His Mantis shrimp, for example, has more than 100 moving pieces. The models were originally designed for SLS Nylon printing, but the Form 1+ is up to the challenge of such complex structures. You can purchase his designs through his Shapeways store.

Re-invigorating tradition with technology through 3D printing.
Re-invigorating tradition with technology through 3D printing.

Read about Brian’s latest project, a fully-functional 3D-printed acoustic violin, on our blog.

Request a Free Sample