Jun 18, 2014 2:22 PM

Gallery: A Taste of How 3-D Printing Could Transform High-Tech Architecture

Photos by Davidfotografie
01
arup-08
Global engineering firm Arup usually tackles massively complex projects, but their latest creation is a humble piece of hardware called a node which is meant to hold high tension structural cables in place.
Photos by Davidfotografie
02
arup-01
The webbing around the neck of the node is decorative, but serves a vital purpose supporting the ring during the 3-D printing process.

Photos by Davidfotografie
03
arup-09
The complex geometry can appear arbitrary, but ever swoop and hole serves a functional purpose.
Photos by Arup
04
arup-animation
The new node can seamlessly replace it's clunkier cousin while upgrading the aesthetics of the installation.

Photos by Davidfotografie
05
arup-04
The original node was manufactured by welding stainless steel sheets and tubes together,—a process that is time-consuming and wasteful.
Photos by Arup
06
arup-standing
The node in these pictures is just a scale-model prototype, but Arup hopes to start using 3-D printed parts in a production setting within a year.

The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For

AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.

Miles Klee

A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why

Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.

Stephanie Pearson

It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend

Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.

Luke Larsen

There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home

Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.

Jeremy White

The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones

As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.

Miles Klee

Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good

This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.

Christopher Null

The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App

The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.

Matthew Korfhage