Member of the Month

abjectwoe
May, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

3d scanning and printing - ski boots

profile picture
Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
Hi all,

I'm working with a 3d printing exhibition company in the UK and I'm trying to develop some ideas for a sports feature. We're coming to the US in February next year.

Specific to skiing - particularly ski boots - I'm interested to see if any of you have any thoughts/ideas/knowledge/experience with 3d print tech. In principle, it seems to make quite a lot of sense to me to use it for boot tech, although we may be a few years off any kind of usable prototype of a customized boot (?).

I know there's lots of hype around 3d printing, as well as lots of false claims. I'm just trying to get some worthwhile content / understand what we think of the technology's potential within our sport.

Chaars NS.
12 years ago
44 1
profile picture
DosasNMimosas
Posts: 1701 - Karma: 664
i have a few random ideas. what about customized pole grips and baskets or custom zipper pulls and buttons/other fasteners?
12 years ago
11 0
profile picture
CaptainObvious.
Posts: 5713 - Karma: 20,647
I think boots is the wrong direction to go with 3d printing. The materials used in printing won't hold up to the beating skiers subject their boots too. And it's not the material you want to make liners out of. After that, there's not much left for boots.

The response above mine has some good ideas.
12 years ago
7 0
profile picture
Caleb.E
Posts: 3556 - Karma: 1,015
You might not think so, but ski boots are the most expensive/hard to make ski part.
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
snakerton
Posts: 2434 - Karma: 1,977
I dont know much about 3d printers but if you made a good design, had the right material you could make a shell. You would have to buy buckles and a liner of course.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
tomPietrowski
Posts: 7294 - Karma: 18,716
Yeah not boots. The process would not be cheap enough if you wanted to go full custom. To scan feet and then develop 3d models of shells and then print would cost a lot. And there are already full custom shell boots on the market from Fischer and salomon so I can't see it being taken up. However there may be a market for extended cases, amputees for example. People who can't ever wear a standard boot, it could maybe be an option, but obviously a very small market.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Wizerd
Posts: 908 - Karma: 6,696
iMatthew has good ideas.....
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
84west
Posts: 646 - Karma: 1,254
I think 3d printing is a long way from being able to print boot shells, but you might be able to figure out a way to print replacement buckles. If its possible to print gun parts then boot buckles are probably possible.

You could also look into printing custom footboards that fit existing boot shells or wedges (for heel lifts). I think 3d printing has a ton of potential for custom bootfitting parts like that.
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
tomPietrowski
Posts: 7294 - Karma: 18,716
^ I woul doubt it would work well for footbeds ect for 2 reasons. To get a good footbed you need a print of the base of the foot when weighted. This coul be hard to achieve. You would prob need to go with an unweighted stance but then you just end up with a super feet product which don't really work. The secon issue is the plastic it's self. To work well the bed has to be able to flex and this is not something a printed product can do.

I do think things like custom spoilers could work. Scan the calf and produce a spoiler to exactly fit. But cost would mean for the short term it would be very much racers only.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
3D printing is very cool and I am excited to see how it will affect the snowsports industry and manufacturing in general.

3d printing is in it's infancy stage, and will continue to evolve into many applications.

Burton uses 3d printing to test new frame designs (Anon) and binding and boot parts.

I am excited to see the future of 3d printing.
12 years ago
1 1
profile picture
Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 501
This thread is cool, I work for a company that builds 3d scannars for scanning feet and legs. The scans are then used in cnc carvers to carve out mold, prostectic legs and feet are then made using the mold.

I do electrical, firmware, mechanical and r&d in everynthing. Being an avid skiier I can't beleve I haven't thought of this application...
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Shredability
Posts: 2757 - Karma: 501
Sorry double post, this thread has peaked my interest. I also have experiance with 3d printing, feel free to contact my with any qestions or info, I would also be willing to help with design.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
onenerdykid
Posts: 6747 - Karma: 11,771
Once we have everything in CAD, we use 3D printers to make the first mock ups of our ski boots. Even with our mega-fancy equipment, there is no way it is strong enough to ski let alone survive a fall off a table. Cool idea though, perhaps in the future it could work...
12 years ago
3 0
profile picture
SamtheEagle
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 713
interesting idea and wish i could help out but bump andyways
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
robotdna
Posts: 1232 - Karma: 2,959
As someone that is familiar with 3D printers, I personally believe the plastics are not viable to give that stiff-yet-flexy feel.

I do agree with iMatthew, try doing something small first like pole grips or baskets. Baskets break all the time for people, so having this option would be good.

ALSO- Maybe try wax scrapers? Simple design, easy for the printer's extruder to produce.

If you -really- want to go larger, you might be able to pull off helmet shells or BC avy shovels.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Van_Wilder
Posts: 228 - Karma: 554
I saw a video on a 3d printed snowboard, it was really flimsy. I think it would be cool to make ski boots, just difficult to make a supportive boot.

This is a really awesome idea though!
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,545
Anyone that brings a plastic shovel in to the BC doesn't belong there.
12 years ago
4 0
profile picture
robotdna
Posts: 1232 - Karma: 2,959
Hey, using honeycomb supports along the back out of ABS is pretty damn strong.

But that's not the point. It's super cheap and when it breaks, print a fucking new one. So easy.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
Hmm. Loads of interesting posts - some which I agree with, and some I kinda don't.

Could I generalize the feedback by saying most of you think that 3D printing's potential in our sport is more aimed at 'accessories' (not sure what a better word would be) rather than actual gear - like boots or even skis?

In many industries, the (rapid) prototyping proceedures are beginning to resemble actual manufacture as a result of developments in tech (3d printing). Even if appropriate materials (that can flex in specific areas / withstand shock or force) are introduced, do you still think that 3d printing a ski boot is a bit ridiculous?

Thanks for all your interesting ideas and stuff!
12 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,798
Perhaps if you could give significant advantages while reducing costs + time it'd be viable, but otherwise I doubt it.

@Onenerdykid, what about signal snowboards? they made a printed snowboard, at least partially printed anyway, and it seemed to work, kind-of. Here's the vid for anyone who hasn't seen it.



@OP, having the ability to use a 3d printer is highly unlikely to get you a company in the ski industry. I've worded that badly, but the point is, the 3d printer could possibly aid companies that are already creating products, but I can't see it being used to create anything new, at this time anyway.

The only thing I can think could potentially be made would be goggles frames, but again, depends on the cost+time.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
cydwhit
Posts: 5079 - Karma: 43,074
Immediately thought of this when I saw the thread, I still think that a completely 3d printed boot would not work but perhaps at some time in the future, although honestly I am not sure if the demand would make it worth the cost ever. Right now I think that 3d printing's most useful application is rapid prototyping.
12 years ago
0 0
profile picture
Most-D
Posts: 729 - Karma: 1,088
A 3D printed boot was presented at ISPO last week.

Any knowledge / thoughts to share?

http://www.crp.eu/3060-crp-technology-features-first-3d-printed-skiboot-prototype-windform-sp-ispo-2015.html
10 years ago
3 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 3:43PM