Why 3D Print a hockey puck? Why not! When you have access to industry leading 3D printing and rapid prototyping technology its hard not to combine it with a passion for sports.
This year has been a big one for the good old hockey game. With crowdsourcing platforms continuing to support the development of innovative ideas, and the recent availability of Kickstarter in Canada, it was only a matter of time until individuals (especially Canadians) looked to improve the game we love.
To commemorate the start of the 2013 NHL hockey season we 3D printed a hockey puck. We tried to mimic the original concept of a hockey puck to portray the use of rapid prototyping equipment in sports. Although we didn’t make any significant changes to puck design, it left us wondering whether or not it could be changed. Is the traditional puck the optimal choice?
Ice hockey pucks that we are used to seeing were standardized around 1885. That means the original design has held up for almost 130 years! A standard ice hockey puck is made of vulcanized rubber, is 1 inch (25mm) thick, 3 inches (76mm) in diameter and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces.
We decided to test the durability and performance of our materials in the form of a puck. We 3D printed a digital mix of VeroWhitePlus and TangoBlackPlus at a shore value of A95. This gave it some flexibility, as we tried to mimic vulcanized rubber.
Next, we got Jeff Prendergast a former AHL player, to test our 3D print. He fired almost 20 shots. We asked him to ring some off the post, crossbar, glass, boards, and obviously, the net. Our puck not only held up, but performed remarkably! It was left with a few minor scratches and bruises.
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