Additive manufacturing service provider Sculpteo has designed and manufactured custom protective feet for Plum’ Case guitar cases by Luxbag.
Luxbag is a French company specialising in cases for musical instruments that sells products globally. Its Plum’ Case is built around an aluminium shell and weighs around 4.2 kg, making it one of the lightest rigid guitar cases in the world, per Luxbag.
To preserve the product's lightness while ensuring protection and stability, Luxbag turned to Sculpteo and its additive manufacturing capacity to produce the case's feet. With Multi Jet Fusion and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Sculpteo has developed feet that provide good grip when the case is set down - limiting the risk of slipping - and make scratches less visible thanks to the 'raw, rough texture' of the parts. Their shape also helps keep the case stable in different positions.
Deploying additive manufacturing, Sculpteo has been able to produce the parts without the need for dedicated moulds and in small and medium runs. Meanwhile, the use of TPU has allowed Sculpteo to produce parts that absorb shocks, resist abrasion from repeated contact with the ground, and offer good grip to limit the risk of the case sliding on a sloped surface.
“This project illustrates the ability of 3D printing to meet specific industrial needs with custom-designed parts,” said Alexandre d’Orsetti, CEO of Sculpteo. “By combining our technical expertise with Luxbag’s requirements, we were able to develop a solution that combines protection, stability and lightness, while keeping manufacturing flexible.”
Patrice Pivron, Director of Luxbag, added: “Sculpteo’s expertise was a real asset for the Plum’ Case project. We were delighted to find a local partner able to work closely with us and bring valuable technical expertise. Their contribution allowed us to refine the design of the case’s feet and improve the final product.”
The partners are already considering the integration of additional features, such as stackable feet that would allow several cases to be carried together and make handling and logistics easier.
