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The USA luge team is using 3D printing in its quest for gold.
It's teaming with Stratasys to 3D print tools that're employed in the making of racing sleds, which means not only the sled's body but also the "tower" at the front of a doubles sled where athletes position their legs.
This sled was built directly from prototypes that Stratasys designed and 3D printed.
Luge is a sport involving one- or two-person sleds that can reach speeds of nearly 90 miles per hour. Athletes race face-up and feet-first down an icy track. They steer the sled by either using their calves to flex the runners or by using their shoulders to shift their weight.
When a sled part is being made, a mold, also called a tool, is created to form the part's shape. Any design change in the sled calls for a new tool, which can normally take several weeks to create. But Stratasys was able to 3D print the tools for a sled in less than a week.
One of the biggest advantages to using 3D printing is customization. Traditionally, athletes would all use one generic sled. Now sleds can be made as long or as wide as an individual athlete, and in a fraction of the time.
"We need precision and we also need the ability to make tweaks, and 3D printing is where it's at for this kind of thing," said Gordy Sheer, marketing director for USA Luge and a 1998 doubles luge silver medalist. "As we learn more about aerodynamics and optimizing our designs, it's nice to be able to have the ability to make those changes quickly."
[...] Printing tooling for sleds is just the beginning. Dahl says they envision the whole sled could be 3D printed in the near future.
"There could be a point where you take a scan of the athlete," he said, "and you're able to print a sled that is custom and tailored to their body shape in the most optimal aerodynamics possible."
It all makes Sheer wish he'd had a sled with 3D printed components back when he was competing.
"These sleds are so much more advanced than when I was racing," he said.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Joe Desertrat on Wednesday February 14 2018, @10:46PM (3 children)
Just print your own gold medals. Saves time and money and it will pass for the real thing in bars and other social situations.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday February 14 2018, @10:51PM (2 children)
Who decided to invite other nations to the Olympics, and not have the events in prime time, anyway?
The World Series organizers are a lot smarter.
(Score: 3, Funny) by frojack on Wednesday February 14 2018, @11:44PM (1 child)
Same person who decide that riding a sled down hill is an athletic endeavor.
As best I can tell it only requires strong sphincter muscles.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday February 14 2018, @11:54PM
Doing 90mph barreling down really hard ice with sharp bits of metal right next to you, with only one shot every 4 years at people paying attention?
It's athletic because you'd better run faster than your mommy, when you tell her that's what you'd like to do for a living.
(Score: 2) by EvilSS on Wednesday February 14 2018, @11:11PM (1 child)
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday February 14 2018, @11:21PM
Frame it for doing drugs [wikipedia.org], then lock it up for 40+ years. Parade it every four years in front of judges, deny parole, and again pride themselves in having repeatedly secured the gold. NBC is already working on the sob stories to fill the rest of the broadcast. Stats are highly favorable. The US is the reigning world champion.
(Score: 2) by Arik on Wednesday February 14 2018, @11:53PM
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 15 2018, @03:26AM
In this sport, you'll always be a luger.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by arulatas on Thursday February 15 2018, @02:37PM
Is this a sport or is this the technology challenge? Seems that an unfair advantage is given by the equipment. If it were sport wouldn't it be based on skill not who can build the better equipment?
----- 10 turns around