The Verge: For hundreds of years, the Swiss Guard have worn a distinctive, brightly-colored dress uniform while protecting the Pope and Vatican City, with only a couple of minor changes over the years. This year, they’re making a big change: the traditional, metal helmet — called a morion — is being replaced with ones that are 3D printed.
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6 comments:
This is an interesting use of modern technology. It is cool to see the wide adaptation of such technology, branching outside of the original groups it was made for or who adopted it first. However, it is kind of a weird one in my opinion. I do not know why but it just feels kind of odd to take something so ceremonial and so drenched in history and tradition and make it in such modern methods. Particularly when the leap is done from blacksmithing to 3D printing. The consideration for the Swiss Guards is nice though. At least in taking such a modern leap in manufacturing they are also modernizing the design while also remaining true to the overall look. I’m curious to see what the finished product will look like and how they might finish the exterior. Will they make it look like the tradition metal helmets in the end?
It is great to see that 3D printing is being applied to so many different applications and that technology is being adapted to all sectors of the world. I wonder what other uniforms and outfits will start being 3D printed after the Vatican’s Swiss Guards’ helmets are being 3D printed. This seems like a great improvement to the guard’s life as good breathability makes any outfit feel better. I feel like there are tons of outfits that could be made for historical reenactors to make those outfits more comfortable. There is a whole probably multi-million-dollar industry, waiting to be taped. This article raises a huge question about what other things are going to start to be 3D printed. I don’t know the implications of this and I am extremely uneducated when it comes to job growth issues but it would industry to see the clothing industry in fifty or one hundred years to see who/what is making clothing. I agree with Simone that this is a weird thing to be modernized with all the tradition.
In the past couple of days, so many articles about 3D printing and its uses have been published that I am not suprised that there is another that tells the readers that there is more possibility to the phenomenon than it already has.
3D printing seems to me to be an outet that can give some depth and life to generally categorised 2D figures, which is its nest feature. Even though the machine is expensive, it is cresited with saving a lot the workers a lot of time to hand-create everything and allowing maximum precision to be utilised in the structure.
This article essentially reiterates these benefits of 3D printing and how this phenomenon creates an impact on the costume aspect of a show, which is not heard of a lot, but there is a first there. The application of this phenomenon in the show is positively advertising the use of 3D printing, which is a benefit for all visual artists.
Since it first started to become more prevalent a few years ago, I have always been super interested in the concept of 3D printing. I have always thought about how many different uses there are for it. More recently, we have seen the ability to 3D print new materials like metal and even chocolate. With this, the opportunities for 3D printing are nearly endless. I think using 3D printing for making these helmets show that this is true. A few years ago, I would have never thought about 3D printing something like a helmet. I think this shows us how much we can actually use it for in the theater. From 3D printing small parts or even entire props to 3D printing set pieces and even 3D printing costumes... anything is possible. I hope to see this technology get used more and more in the theater as it is developed more and we are able to print with more materials and quicker.
Huh. This is pretty cool. I was a little disappointed that it sounds like it is really just a materials change: the helmets don’t serve a practical purpose, and they aren’t changing the design, just what it’s made out of. That said, even for just ceremonial duties, I’m sure things like this make a big difference for the people that have to actually wear miserably heavy, hot helmets all day, especially in an organization that is as steeped in ceremonies and transition as the Vatican. It’s certainly a reflection of where things are going; 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing techniques are beginning to outcompete other materials in areas including price and manufacturing time. Granted that handmade steel is a pretty low bar in those two areas, but it’s the first step of many, I’m sure. 3D printing has rapidly gotten more precise, cheaper, and faster in the last few years, and as those trends continue and more and more materials become printable, I think we will approach a future where 3D printers are everywhere, from industry to homes to coffee shops, and such a variety of things will be printable (and recyclable), that there is a constant industry of printing, using, and melting down for materials to be reprinted. It could change so many things.
3D printing is SO. COOL. I always find myself blown away by innovative 3D printing projects and techniques that I sometimes forget that this method of manufacturing has real life applications beyond making little DnD minis and intricate mechanisms. The field really has applications in just about every industry! I have seen 3D printing used to make art, construct buildings, walk the in fashion shows, and even fabricate prosthetics that are cheaper and better than existing ones. Here, 3D printing is being used to better the Vatican guards' lives and reduce the costs of making their getup. It really is a win-win situation.
I find myself unable to imagine how uncomfortable it is to wear these heavy metal helmets in the sun all day, then be burnt by them from heat buildup, and have to repeat the process the next day. Not only does the material the new helmets are being constructed from cost less, it is also lighter, UV resistant, and provide ventilation. Growing up with this technology as it develops reminds me of my parents whenever they say "You know, I didn't even have a phone until I was an adult because they didn't EXIST before that!" Our children and the generations beyond are going to grow up with 3D printing technology as commonplace as cell phones are to us now.
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