ATOM lab, which is the research unit of a company that makes cobbling machines, will present an automated shoe production process at the Simac Tanning Tech trade fair in Milan by the time this article is written. At ATOM’s booth, visitors will be able to select 3D printed soles and uppers and have customized shoes made for them. The most challenging step in the process is bonding the outsole to the shoe’s upper. Plastics Company Covestro has come up with a solution based on polyurethane raw materials for adhesives, which can be applied to the outsole or upper with digital printing. ATOM lab has used a variation of a melt layer method, Fused Deposition Modeling, using strands of filaments that are melted. Molten adhesive is applied according to a digital print layout. The sole and upper are joined with pressure, which creates a solid bond.
The method of using adhesive filaments is both quick and efficient. A method that could help the quality of 3D printed shoes. It is also very precise and reproducible, which is well suited for absorbent substrates. The adhesive has a high initial strength and is activated almost immediately. If the open time is adequately long, the fabricator can dispense with prior heat activation Polyurethane adhesives have been successful in shoe manufacturing. They are easy to make and result in flexible, strong, and durable adhesive going with a high impact resistance. This is another innovation that has impressed 3DShoes.com. Covestro offers a comprehensive range of raw materials for both one and two-component adhesives that are often developed in close collaboration with formulators.
Original Article: https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/News/covestro-enables-shoe-innovator-to-3d-print-on-demand-shoes-/
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