3dsystems-kallista-faucet-water
The Grid sink faucet, the result of KALLISTA's design, 3rd Dimension's printing capabilities, and 3D Systems' technology.
KALLISTA, a designer and provider of luxury kitchen and bathroom products, is this week showcasing its 3D printed Grid sink faucet at the Kitchen and Bathroom Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando.
The company, wholly owned by Kohler, one of the leading players in the kitchen and bathroom product space, veered towards 3D printing to capitalise on the design flexibility it offers. Via 3rd Dimension, a metal manufacturer specialising in 3D metal printing, 3D Systems’ additive manufacturing technology and materials were used to develop the ‘first of its kind’ faucet and deliver it to market.
At KBIS, starting today and running until January 11th, industry players and visitors will get the first look at luxury bathroom and kitchen application. Grid has been created with unique geometry, according to KALLISTA, which has allowed the design of ‘discreet interior channels’ enabling water to flow easily through the base. Showcasing the faucet for the first time, KALLISTA is not only proud of the achievements of its designers, but also acknowledged the technology powering the project.
“Designers usually need to consider a manufacturing process and they have to design around that process,” said Bill McKeone, design studio manager, KALLISTA. “By choosing to produce this faucet via 3D printing, we opened ourselves to limitless design possibilities. 3D Systems’ breadth of material and technologies allowed us the freedom to create a unique, functional faucet which would not have been possible with a traditional manufacturing process.”
3D Systems KALLISTA
The expertise of 3rd Dimension engineers assisted by 3DXpert metal additive manufacturing software enabled the optimisation of supports for the Grid faucet during the 3D printing process.
“In order to realise the best product, you have to start with the best tools,” added Bob Markley, president, 3rd Dimension. “The strength of the 3D Systems technology and materials, coupled with the expertise of our engineers and machinists allowed us to rapidly produce and deliver these high-end faucets for KALLISTA.”
3D Systems’ ProX DMP 320 metal additive manufacturing system and LaserForm 316L stainless steel powder were the printer and materials of choice – KALLISTA desired a precise product which would avoid rust and corrosion. It was the first time KALLISTA would ever deploy 3D printing technology for a product it would be delivering to market. With the help of 3rd Dimension, KALLISTA was able to exploit the advantages of 3D printing, avoiding the days and weeks of delays often experienced with production tooling. The parts were printed within hours and have matched KALLISTA’s desires exactly. They’ve also caught the attention of 3D Systems.
“This is just one example of the value 3D printing brings to a production environment,” commented David Cullen, Director of Applications Engineering, 3D Systems. “Through the combination of materials, print technology, software and services, KALLISTA was able to bring their visionary design to market.”
KALLISTA showcased the 3D printed Grid faucet at KBIS 2018 where it was named the Best of Show for 2018.
