The 3D printers of the Barcelona-based technology firm BCN3D allows to enhance the creativity of more than 1,400 students who annually attend to IED Barcelona in design studios

Since 2017, IED Barcelona has implemented BCN3D printers for the manufacture of prototypes and functional parts that allow students to accelerate the creative process of them and turn their ideas into reality

The Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) is an international network of universities specialized in training, development and research in the disciplines of Fashion, Design, Management & Design Strategies and Visual Communication


Barcelona (Spain), ​​September 12th, 2019​.- The alliance of BCN3D technology firm, dedicated to the manufacture of 3D printers and the development of their own three-dimensional printing software from its headquarters in Castelldefels (Barcelona, Spain), with the IED Barcelona School of Design It has allowed access to this three-dimensional printing technology to the more than 1,400 students who annually study the different design
studies in the fields of Fashion, Design, Visual Communication and Management & Design Strategies.

The incorporation of additive manufacturing in IED Barcelona in 2017, has provided students to quickly develop prototypes for their ideas in order to capture the full potential of the concept. After two years of experience with this technology, students have developed automobile concepts for 2035 cities, fashion accessories, models for future hospital environments or prototypes of objects made in collaboration with Artesans de Catalunya.

For this purpose, the IED sought a solution for its Maker Lab such as 3D printing for prototyping and functional tests. From the Istituto Europeo di Design they chose to incorporate in their facilities two of the three-dimensional printers of BCN3D: the Sigma and the Sigmax.

“For BCN3D to be able to offer our 3D printers to universities and specialized educational centers, such as IED, means entering a strategic sector with which we want to continue working closely. Our philosophy as a technology firm that designs and manufactures its own three-dimensional printers in Barcelona is focused on helping universities and educational and creativity centers to correctly implement 3D printing and go hand in hand with strategic partners, as is the case of IED ”​, says Xavier Martínez Faneca​, CEO of BCN3D.

“The philosophy of FDI is based on a methodology based on learning by doing. Therefore, rapid prototyping takes a lot of importance. Especially in the discipline design , thanks to the new technologies that we have within reach, the creation of rapid prototypes allows to accelerate the creative processes. Students, during the design process, can quickly validate and materialize ideas through 3D printed models”, ​explains ​Raffaella Perrone​, development director of the Design area of ​​IED Barcelona.

Reduce model creation time and increase interactions For IED students it is not so much about the cost of materials; It is the reduction in manufacturing time that really makes the difference. By not building the model through traditional methods, students can save quite a significant time. In addition, having 3D printers in their workshop allows them to test more designs in a shorter period of time and also manage to perform several iterations by design.

3D printers BCN3D in the Maker Lab of the IED Barcelona The main reason why IED decided to invest in BCN3D printers for its Maker Lab was IDEX technology. IDEX is one of the most reliable technologies on the market when it comes to double extrusion technology. This is because the two extruders work independently when printing water soluble media or pieces of various materials. While an extruder prints, the second one is parked, preventing the dripping of molten plastic into the piece.

Conventional double extrusion printers have both extruders together, which can result in filament threads left in the part. IED Barcelona, ​​through the use of 3D printing technologies, demonstrates how it can revolutionize the creative thinking of students. Advantages of 3D printing vs. conventional manufacturing Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, has been present in the industry since the 1980s. It is not until the early 2000s that parts for end use are manufactured with this technology. However, the cost per piece was too high and there was no point in making short series with it. As of 2010, 3D printing is democratized and professional desktop 3D printers are available at an affordable price.

These are the reasons:

● Reduction of costs and delivery times Normally when manufacturing small series it is necessary to manufacture a mold with the negative part that will allow the series to be manufactured. The costs associated with these molds can become an obstacle and the waiting time for their production can extend between 12 and 24 weeks.

● Introduction of redesigns quickly and economically There are some parts that need to be re-designed during their life cycle. The impression 3D avoids the need for molds and tools that can become unusable due to any small design improvement or change in parts. On the other hand, 3D printing allows to freely evolve and optimize the designs of the pieces.

Freedom of design 3D printing allows manufacturing parts with more complex and organic geometries due to its layer-by-layer manufacturing. This allows designers to have more freedom of creation for their designs. About BCN3D Technologies BCN3D Technologies aims to change the manufacturing status quo by providing reliable, versatile and productive tools. We are one of the leading manufacturers of 3D desktop printers worldwide. Without a doubt, 3D printing is a disruptive technology that aims to lead such a revolution.

For this reason, BCN3D develops affordable 3D printers, easy to use and designed with the aim of allowing its users to implement all the benefits of this technology in their business. About the IED Barcelona School of Design - iedbarcelona.es Since 1966, the Istituto Europeo di Design operates in the training of the disciplines of Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, Communication and Management in its 11 locations in Milan, Rome, Florence, Turin, Venice, Cagliari, Como, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

More than 130,000 students have graduated since its opening and each year it has 10,000 students from all over the world. The IED is committed to educational initiatives and practices related to corporate reality and adds more than 1,000 business agreements during more than 50 years of experience. The headquarters of IED Barcelona, ​​located in the Gràcia neighborhood, has been consolidated since 2002 as one of the reference training centers in design and is recognized by the Generalitat de Catalunya as a Higher School of Design. Its training offer is composed of the Higher Degrees in Product Design, Interiors, Fashion and Graphic, in addition to the Bachelors of Arts (Honors) awarded by the University of Westminster, the IED Diplomas, masters, postgraduate courses and training courses Continuous and summer. The Barcelona school is distinguished by its multicultural and interdisciplinary nature and attracts 1,000 students each year from more than 100 different nationalities.

See below video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czoe3zwzgnE&feature=youtu.be

BCN3D press contact

David Martínez Press Officer dmartinez@bcn3d.com BCN3D C / Esteve Terradas, 1, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona (Spain)
+34 934 137 088

BCN3D press contact

David Martínez Press Officer dmartinez@bcn3d.com BCN3D C / Esteve Terradas, 1, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona (Spain)
+34 934 137 088

About BCN3D Technologies
BCN3D Technologies is one of the leading manufacturers of desktop 3D printers worldwide. Based in Barcelona, the activity of BCN3D began in 2012 as a division of the CIM-UPC center, a Technology Center of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), leader in additive manufacturing in the south of Europe.

BCN3D aims to change the traditional manufacturing status quo by providing reliable, versatile and productive processes. Undeniably, 3D Printing is a game-changing technology called to lead such a revolution. For this reason, BCN3D develops affordable 3D printers with ease-of-use and versatility in mind in order to empower its customers to implement all the technology benefits to their businesses.