Our technology
The 3D-printed last from Dreve offers outstanding properties for the production of custom shoes. It is available for you at short notice without long delivery times and is manufactured by us in an energy- and resource-saving way. At the same time, it is in no way inferior to traditionally manufactured lasts. Thanks to the digital workflow, you always receive a highly accurate product that can be reproduced at any time.
Properties
Why DLP Printing?
Waste and sustainability are growing and important issues in today's world. Wood moldings fit ideally into this profile of requirements, but are manufactured by machining and therefore come with a high amount of wood waste not directly used for the application. Additive manufacturing meshes precisely with this approach. In the manufacturing process generally referred to as 3D printing, the component is built up layer by layer, i.e. material is gradually layered on top of one another, and only in the area that will later constitute the component. The material used is therefore incorporated into the final component almost completely and without waste.
In the FDM printing process, the material used is heated and recorded layer by layer with a nozzle in the form of a melted plastic strand. Two things in particular are disadvantageous here: Firstly, the nozzle has to approach each individual point within a layer once, which means high production times for large components. Secondly, the material cools after deposition, which means that the next layer, again hot and molten when extruded from the nozzle, is deposited on a cold layer. Stresses and a less than ideal layer bond, leading to mechanical weak points, are the result.
In 3D printing with light-curing plastics, material is cured by means of UV light and thus chemically shaped by molecular bonds. The bond between the layers is also based on cross-linking of the molecules, which makes the layer bond very stable and gives the finished component almost anistropic properties - the component can be loaded equally in all directions.
The combination of these advantages is united in Dreve's 3D-printed last.
Sustainability
In today's world, awareness of sustainability and ecological products continues to grow. This idea affects both the private and commercial sectors - and thus also the work of the orthopedic shoe technician in his workshop. Shoe lasts are no exception, even if the aim should always be to use the last for as long as possible and for as many pairs of shoes as possible for reasons of efficiency alone, provided that the patient's foot does not change significantly. However, if this is the case, the disposal of the last must be resolved. The traditional way of manufacturing shoe lasts from wood is already a good solution due to the use of a renewable raw material.
However, since the wood lath is rarely optimized with filler or materials applied with adhesives, classic recycling of the wood is no longer possible. Its use as a secondary raw material for the production of chipboard or similar is therefore no longer possible. The only possible use is then thermal recycling. Our 3D-printed lath is in no way inferior to wooden lath in this respect. The plastic does not contain any toxic substances, which means that the lath can be disposed of with normal household waste. Thermal recycling for the generation of heat or electricity is also possible without any problems. Alternatively, the last can of course be returned to us and recycled by Dreve!
Disposal options of the 3D-printed last from Dreve:
✓ Disposal via household waste
✓ Thermal recycling possible without any problems
✓ Return to Dreve for free disposal
Our experts
Choosing 3D printing is an innovative step in your overall workflow. But sometimes especially the start and the implementation can be a challenge, not only for beginners. Ouradditive manufacturing and 3D printing experts are happy to support you on your way. We'll be pleased to guide you expertly through the process. For more than seventy years, Dreve has stood for high-quality and reliable products in medical applications.
As a supplier of medical products, one thing is most important to us: the complete satisfaction of ourcustomers. Our experts therefore offer real added value for you - whether you are an experienced user of digital technologies or an ambitious newcomer. Feel free to contact us at any time!
3D Printing