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3D printing life size elephant for World Elephant Day
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3D printing can be watched through livestream online.
The 3D printing of a life size elephant is currently being streamed online in a bid to save the elephants for World Elephant Day.
On display at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, five Ultimaker Original 3D printers are being used in a campaign from animal welfare organisation, World Animal Protection to end elephants suffering form the tourism industry in a campaign launched on August 12th, World Elephant Day.
The charity says that the demand from tourists wanting to ride elephants has led to elephants experiencing pain and stress and an increased number of elephants poached from the wild. As a result, people are being asked to pledge never to ride an elephant again and can have their names printed into the elephant model in a special ‘Elephont’ style which has been designed to mimic the texture of elephant skin.
The designer behind the project is Joris van Tubergen, who built the unique 3D printing model utilising five Ultimaker Original desktop machines. The printers are turned upside down to break the boundaries of space and height restrictions and allow individual pieces of up to 2.5 metres high to be printed.
Ultimaker CEO Siert Wijnia says, “This project shows that 3D printing is not just for hobbyists or commercial purposes – it can emphasise benefaction and the importance of a cause like World Elephant Day. We are pleased that World Animal Protection chose Ultimaker as their 3D printing partner. The very versatile Ultimaker Original is a great fit for this project.”
The installation will be on display at the airport’s entrance until August 30th and the printing progress can be followed through the livestream here.
