The 3D Printed Glacier Table

Jörg Petri and Daniel Büning, the founding partners of the German design firm NOWlab, say they began an ongoing research project to study a glacier's natural evolution and then apply their knowledge to creating products which reflect the processes at work there. Their Glacier table is a 100% recyclable and biodegradable piece meant to represent a new paradigm for product development and construction. The pair say they integrated three-dimensional periodic microstructures within the table to provide structural performance and cut back on total weight. They used computer simulations to account for the locations of peak stress points within the table, and they then adjusted the geometry of the design to handle those forces. You can read the whole story here: http://3dprint.com/79184/nowlab-3d-print-glacier-table/


Below is a photo of the 'Glacier' table:
http://3dprint.com/wp-content/upload...5e2fd93af5.jpg