Mapping the future with 3D-printed titanium Apple Watch cases
Apple’s now 3-D printing every titanium Watch, and the process is very cool to know about, and to watch as well
Apple Newsroom, Mapping the future with 3D-printed titanium Apple Watch cases:
This year, all Apple Watch Ultra 3 and titanium Apple Watch Series 11 cases are 3D-printed with 100 percent recycled aerospace-grade titanium powder, an achievement not previously considered possible at scale. Every team at Apple rallied behind a shared ambition. The polished mirror finish on Series 11 had to be pristine. Ultra 3 had to maintain its durability and lightweight form to meet the demands of everyday adventurers. They both also had to be better for the planet without compromising performance, and use the same or better-quality materials.
I’ve always found fascinating in the wood industry –and later on many other industries– that most stuff is done by substracting the raw material. I’ve always found it as a waste.
With 3D printing Apple says it can make the double of Apple Watches with the same amount of material –although previously treated–, so it wastes way less.
Turns out with titanium in particular, most of the material is wasted and recycling doesn’t retain the same properties as the original piece. I always thought you could just recycle the shavings, but looks like it’s expensive and the resulting material is not as good as the original.
The videos are pretty cool too, take a look.