A New Method of Printing Multi-Material Textiles by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)

Abstract

3D printing is considered to be the key technology for future production processes. It has recently found its way into the fi eld of the textile industry and promises to revolutionise the textile supply chain. It is of particular interest for the production of customised items and other structures which cannot be produced with common techniques. Large apparel companies have already integrated 3D printing into their manufacturing processes to print parts like soles and accessories. However, 3D printed garments that are ready to wear can still not be found. Due to the lack of suitable printing materials, research in 3D printed textiles is still in its initial stage. This research contributes to the development of 3D printed textiles by using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). In this study, a new method for printing textile-like surfaces was developed which combines diff erent materials into an interrelated fl exible structure. Several textile-like surfaces were designed on this basis and fi nally applied to a wearable garment. Furthermore, the advantages of 3D printing for the textile supply chain were demonstrated.