Can you imagine being able to 3D print wool? After surprising us with prints of coffee, beer and even scallops, 3D technologies bring us another marvel. This time, a Dutch designer, Christien Meindertsma, has spearheaded an innovative project that promises to change the way we see and use wool.
Christien has developed a special robotic arm, called the FLOCKS Wobot, which can deposit wool layer by layer, creating all kinds of objects without the need for water or other additional materials. This ingenious robot gives a second life to wool that would otherwise be discarded by the textile industry because it is too thin. Thus, his project is perfectly in line with the philosophy of the circular economy.
In the Netherlands, 1.5 million kilos of wool are thrown away annually. In Spain, the figure is equally shocking: 6,000 tonnes of fine wool, 18,000 tonnes of fine wool and 6,500 tonnes of coarse wool per year. However, wool has many advantages over other materials such as polystyrene: it is recyclable, biodegradable, strong, solid, with excellent insulating properties and permeable to water. It is also fire resistant up to 560°C. Combined with 3D printing, wool could revolutionise many industries.
Christien collaborated with TFT to develop this robotic arm, which is connected to a cobot, a collaborative robot equipped with sensors that allow it to work safely alongside operators. This arm deposits successive layers of wool in a similar way to how a 3D printer works with filament. Although tests have shown it to be most effective with raw wool due to its durability, the arm is compatible with any type of wool. This technique could have applications in the creation of acoustic products, insulation and furniture design.
Christien Meindertsma is currently exhibiting the Wobot at the Cuypershuis in Roermond (Netherlands) until March 2024, and at the V&A in London from yesterday until next October. 3D printing with wool opens up a world of creative and sustainable possibilities, and promises a future where the traditional and the technological intertwine to weave a greener tomorrow.
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