[PA-NJ Glassblowers] 3D printing used to design awesome Glassblowing Mold of Mount Hood Beer Pint

Tony Patti gaffer at glassblower.info
Sat Aug 29 09:54:17 EDT 2015


Be sure to check out the 3 minute 27 second vimeo video (below), and note
how the graphite mold sits inside a small kiln to stay hot (at 1:55)

 

http://www.3ders.org/images2015/hugely-successful-kickstarters-north-drinkwa
re-2.jpg

 

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20150828-north-drinkware-3d-printing-design-mt
-hood-pint-glass.html 

 


North Drinkware used 3D printing to design awesome Mt. Hood Pint Glass,
raised over $531K on Kickstarter

Kickstarter and 3D printers: sometimes a fantastic combination, and
sometimes one that just doesn't work. While a sociologist might be more
capable of discerning crucial factors than we are, some Kickstarter
campaigns involving 3D printing are hugely successful, while others are not.
However, you don't need a degree to see why North Drinkware was so
successful earlier this year with extremely cool pint glasses featuring
Oregon's iconic Mount Hood embedded in the bottom, a product realized with
the help of 3D printed prototyping.

Seeking to raise $15,000 in pledges, that goal was surpassed in just over
five hours, before going on to raise more than half a million dollars at the
conclusion of
<https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/northdrinkware/north-drinkware-mt-hood
-the-oregon-pint-glass/description> the campaign in March 2015. A logistical
nightmare, but the dream of every 3D printing startup. They have since begun
successfully shipping these glasses, with thousands going out all over the
world in batches until October.

However, the story and the 3D printing process behind these glasses is
almost as interesting as the glasses themselves. Its roots can be traced
back to the beautiful state of Oregon itself, as the three Oregonians Nic
Ramirez, Matt Capozzi, and Leigh Capozzi wanted to produce a product that
captured all the things they love about it: the gorgeous mountains and the
craft beers Portland is becoming increasingly famous for. Why drink an
Oregon beer made by Oregonians with ingredients from the same state out of a
regular boring glass, they wondered.

http://www.3ders.org/images2015/hugely-successful-kickstarters-north-drinkwa
re-1.jpg

That question grew out in to the Oregon Pint Glass: featuring the gorgeous
and iconic Mount Hood - Oregon's highest peak at 11,250 feet - embedded in
its base. Much better and more durable than a logo. Some good things are
found at the bottom of a glass after all. 'We made The Oregon Pint because
we wanted a glass with a connection to the places where we live and play. We
were seeking a glass that was crafted with the same skill, care and
consideration as the beer we love to drink. The Oregon Pint delivers an
enhanced experience when enjoying a beer and swapping stories after a ride,
a day on the hill, or when gathering with friends and family,' they say of
their cool glass.

http://www.3ders.org/images2015/hugely-successful-kickstarters-north-drinkwa
re-3.jpg

However, Kickstarter's project rules require projects to feature 'explicit
demos of a working prototype' before launching, and this is where 3D
printing came in, alongside the age-old skill of glassblowing. 'Using United
States Geological Survey (USGS) data (depicting ridges, canyons, and peak) a
3D model of Mt. Hood is integrated into the mold so your beer cascades
around the mountain when you pour it into the glass,' they explain. This
data was used to mock up a digital model of the glass, which was extensively
prototyped using a MakerBot Replicator.

http://www.3ders.org/images2015/hugely-successful-kickstarters-north-drinkwa
re-4.jpg

These models were eventually used to make molds for the glass itself. 'By
using a MakerBot, we were able to do five iterations for almost nothing,
versus, if we had made five graphite molds, it would have cost $20,000,' Nic
Ramirez tells reporters. With the help of a local expert glassblower, these
molds were filled with glass bubbles, which formed around their mountain.
Over time and through a succession of 3D printed improvements, they
eventually reached the glass visible here. 'Every round of prototypes
offered new insight and learning as we worked toward a Kickstarter-ready
Oregon Pint,' Ramirez says.

 <https://vimeo.com/136651575> 

Check out the production process here.

However, 3D printing continued to play an important role even after
Kickstarting success. 'We got to the point where we imagined we would be in
five years in five days,'
<http://www.makerbot.com/blog/tag/north-drinkware> they explain. And scaling
up production has frustrated many startups, and the same can be said for
glass blowing. Including among the 3D printed solutions in this phase was a
3D printed fixture to hold glasses during the final flame polishing - much
quicker and easier to work with than established alternatives. 'Kickstarter
was the big accelerant. To get to the proof of concept, MakerBot was
critical,' they say.

http://www.3ders.org/images2015/hugely-successful-kickstarters-north-drinkwa
re-5.jpg

So what's next? The guys from North Drinkware are currently still hard at
work to meet their amazing Kickstarter demand, but hope to start working on
follow-up products for other states with iconic natural landmarks and a
great beer scene. Current targets are Washington, Vermont, California and
Colorado. And if their initial experience is anything to go by, 3D printing
will definitely play a key role in those beer glasses too. 

 

Wow, glassblowing and beer, what could be better, enjoy!


Tony Patti
  
 <http://www.glassblower.info> www.glassblower.info
  
 <mailto:gaffer at glassblower.info> gaffer at glassblower.info

 <http://www.glassblower.info/qr-code.html> QR Code for Tony Patti -
www.glassblower.info

 

 

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