At A Glance
Estimated Read Time: 3 min.
This month’s part was designed by Application Engineer, Eric Alexander, entirely in KeyShot using the Flakes geometry node and printed on the Stratasys J850 Prime. The 2 hr. 25 min. print used multiple materials, and post-processing included sand polishing and photobleaching. The result is a clear block with vibrant inclusions that resemble dividing cells, showing how rendering tools can spark new ideas.
From Rendering To Printing
This month’s POM comes from Application Engineer, Eric Alexander. When you hear “KeyShot,” you probably think flashy shots and car commercials, the kind of high-gloss visuals the software is famous for. But in this case, KeyShot isn’t just about rendering. Eric used it in a totally unexpected way: to create something ready for 3D printing.
But, September’s Part Of The Month takes the software straight into the world of 3D printing.
The Concept
Eric skipped CAD, and went straight to Keyshot. He used a preset geometry, a simple block with rounded corners. To make it more interesting, he added the Flakes geometry tool to create an array of dots inside the block.
“It reminded me of voxel printing,” Eric explained. “The dots are actual 3D figures suspended within the block. But it is much easier to use in Keyshot compared to voxel tools.”
The Print
- Material: Vero Clear and Vero CMY
- Printer: Stratasys J850 Prime
- Print Time: 2 hrs. 25 min.
- Post-Processing: Sand polished and photobleached
The finished piece is a clear, cell-like block with vibrant pink dots that seem to float inside the material. Around the office, people even compared it to “cells dividing.”
Why This Part
Eric’s motivation for choosing this part was simple: Curiosity.
“I think it is a cool use of Keyshot. I wanted to see what else it could do for printing. A lot of the features in Keyshot are designed for texturing, but I wanted to see how far we could push it beyond rendering.”
By bridging rendering software with 3D printing, Eric was able to create something that is visually and technically impressive. Eric’s experimental print shows how unconventional design tools can spark new possibilities in additive.
It is a reminder that sometimes the best ideas come from exploring software and tools in ways they were not originally intended.
To learn more about using Keyshot in 3D printing, reach out to our team.
Meet Eric Alexander
Meet Eric Alexander, Application Engineer at Purple. Eric works alongside the sales team, providing engineering design services and enabling customers in finding the right additive solution for their production cycles. What Eric enjoys most about Purple is working with a variety of different companies on a wide range of projects.
Out of the office, Eric enjoys, surfing, playing guitar, and calisthenics. If you haven’t had the chance to meet Eric, make sure to stop by the office to say hi or connect with him on LinkedIn!
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