The Futurecraft 4D success is an excellent example of how Carbon’s approach to manufacturing is opening up limitless possibilities not only for adidas designers but also for product development teams in other industry verticals. For the first time, engineers designing for applications such as helmets, orthopedic cushions, car seats, bike seats, and headsets have access to a “tunable” lattice that can effectively replace or complement foam. Designers can now bring their most intricate lattice designs previously unachievable with traditional manufacturing into physical reality using Carbon’s tunable lattice innovation. Let us summarize some benefits of lattice structures possible using Carbon’s technology:

Design Simplicity
Carbon’s ability to create varying lattice structures (Figure 3) within the same part or component results in unmatched design. Previously, engineers had to combine multiple components to create different properties within a final part. This complexity requires additional design, tooling, and assembly resources and often results in quality issues. With Carbon, as highlighted in the adidas midsole example, it is possible to rapidly engineer lattice structures with varying mechanical properties and aesthetics all in the same monolithic part. This unique capability opens up new product design possibilities that in turn enables the creation of differentiated final products.

Breathable
Carbon lattice innovation and resulting open-cell structure (Figure 1) enables customers to create final products with improved thermal characteristics. In applications such as seats, armrests, headsets, crutch-pads, and orthopedic supports for the back and neck, this breathability is especially useful in maintaining a comfortable temperature. Thermal control in these applications is essential for ideal end-user experiences, and heat dissipation via open-cell structures helps with that.

Cleanability
Cleaning materials such as foam is cumbersome. Additionally, water retention and slow drying with foam are not desirable. In contrast, applications using Carbon’s lattice structures are easy to clean, do not retain water, and can be utilized post-wash almost instantaneously.

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