Open-source 3D-printed shoes now a reality thanks to Bambu Lab x Presq partnership

Popular 3D printer company Bambu-Lab has announced a partnership with Presq, an LA-based design technology studio to bring 3D printed footwear to the open-source domain. While several big brands now have 3D printed models out on the market, what sets apart this new initiative is that the designs will be freely available as editable 3D models for anyone to customise based on their own creativity or needs.

The first design released, called the Fig.(0), is a modern-looking slip-on clog with a perforated upper. The choice of material is matte TPE 85A material, which offers a nice balance between firmness and flexibility,  good abrasion- and tear-resistance, and has a soft-touch, non-glossy finish for some much-needed grip. PLA is used in the design file only as the support material, which is removed after printing is complete. 

The design is available on MakerWorld, Bambu Lab's open-source 3D model platform, as a pre-sliced .3mf file optimised for Bambu Lab's recently launched H2D printer. The files are for a pair of US men's size 10 shoes, but handy table of scaling coefficients allows you to print other sizes with a few dimensional adjustments. A CAD file is also included for tinkerers, as a canvas for modular attachments, textures, and performance tweaks". 

Bambu Lab's printers are popular not just for being fast and reliable, but for a host of features that make them relatively easy to use even for someone new to 3D printing. As part of the collaboration, the company has provided Presq with a number of H2D printers for rapid prototyping and public demos.

The Fig.(0) is only the first of many designs from Presq, all of which will be dropped on a monthly basis on MakerWorld. "By pairing Bambu’s performance with our design system and creative direction, we’re giving creators a practical path from imagination to a real product people can wear,” says Presq's founder and CEO, Adam Saleh. The expectation is that, over time, other creators will make the designs their own and will hopefully make them even more accessible by optimising them for other printers, like the Bambu Lab A1 Combo with AMS Lite.

If brand matters to you as much as cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, you can check out Adidas' 4D lineup including the Adidas Mens 4dfwd 2 m sneaker, or the Adidas Originals Men's Alphaedge running shoe on Amazon, which feature 3D printed lattice-style soles.