Awen Sneaker by FlyMike
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This has been my biggest design project to date. It has required loads of research into Shoe design and construction. Asking friends to see their feet and explaining that I don’t have a foot fetish. lots of test prints. To determine everything from the strengths and traits of TPU and how infill and wall thickness affects those traits. Not to mention multiple design changes to modify everything from the assembly process to how well the shoe tread grips.
This is a work in progress! I will be performing real world testing of the shoes over the next few weeks. Everything needs to be evaluated. From tread wear patterns, strength of bonding materials and methods, to ease of use and comfort.
Why another shoe when theirs several models already out there? I have never owned a printer with a build area bigger than 230mm in any direction. Most of the models I have seen are all single prints. That’s one of the cooler benefits of 3D printing. You can make complex shapes like an entire shoe in a single print. But with my size 13 wide feet printing an entire shoe would require a machine that has a massive build plate. In fact, while looking into shoe sizing for this project I found that the average printer with a build plate of 200mm or 220mm wouldn’t be enough space to print even the smallest men’s sizes. A men’s 5.5 has a 24.5cm insole even with some 3D voodoo and angling the model you’re probably not printing that on most machines.
So, my goal was to create a sneaker that could be printed at home in all or at least most sizes. While keeping the assembly process as simple as possible. Thus, the Awen sneaker was designed.
Things you will need:
- Flexible filament! This was written based on using TPU, but any flexible material should work.
- A flat head screwdriver. Or other blunt poking tool.
- A soldering iron to weld the part with a flat or chisel tip. Ideally with a adjustable temp. I am using this cheap one. https://tinyurl.com/yxsco4kh
NOTE: Please check the Project Status section below for revisions and notes on any changes.
