OtterBox opens up its uniVERSE phone case
Proving the power of open source once more, Aleph Objects, makers of the LulzBot 3D printer range, has revealed it has teamed up with the USA's number one phone case manufacturer, OtterBox to release the designs for its uniVERSE Case System to the public.
A lightweight and durable smartphone case, the uniVERSE Case System features an accessory mount for add-ons such as credit card readers and battery packs. After calling on Aleph Objects for guidance earlier this year, OtterBox are now inviting customers to design and 3D print their own uniVERSE case accessories.
“We chose to partner with LulzBot because of their stellar reputation and experience in Open Source products and 3D printing. Their printers produce quality products quickly and efficiently while being extremely user friendly to beginners,” said Kyle Rajaneimi, uniVERSE Marketing Manager at OtterBox.
“We were excited when Kyle called us for a meeting,” said Aleph Objects Director of Marketing Ben Malouf. “The maker community has always shown a ton of interest in 3D printing phone cases, tablet stands, bike mounts, and the like, but they’ve never gotten support from the mobile accessories industry before. We helped OtterBox navigate Free licensing options, but it was their idea to give the maker community access to their uniVERSE CAD files.”
OtterBox has already been applying 3D printing to its R&D process for some time. The company was one of the first to adopt Stratasys' full-colour J750 technology when it launched in 2016. Now OtterBox has released the CAD files for the uniVerse Case System’s accessory mount under the Free CC BY-SA 4.0 International License so that users can download the design and create their own accessories at home.
During the summer, the company showcased LulzBot 3D Printers and the UniVERSE CAD at the 2017 World Maker Faire in New York City.
Rajaneimi commented: “We created kickstands, bottle openers, and more. The printers performed amazingly even in 95 degree NYC summer heat! It was impressive.”
"One of the core values at OtterBox is innovation, which is why we created the uniVERSE Case System," said OtterBox CEO Jim Parke. "We're inviting the community of innovators around the world to customise their mobile experience by designing their own accessories."
