A trio of 3D printed residential faucets, dubbed the DXV Collection, has been named a 2016 R&D 100 Award finalist in the category of Process and Prototyping. The fixtures are the first ready-for-market residential faucets printed in metal.
The Vibrato, Trope, and Shadowbrook models are created using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), an additive manufacturing process that has been used to create plastic prototypes for years, but the use of DMLS for printing metal prototypes of this nature has not been done before.
A computer-guided laser beam fuses powdered metal into the shape of the desired faucet with high heat and pressure. As a solid metal block arises out of the powder, it is then hand-finished to smooth extraneous metal and reveal the design. An artisan then hand-finishes the design to give it a patina and a feel that mimics the texture found on antique silver pieces.
Each faucet in the collection showcases a unique way of delivering the water and opens up the door for numerous other design possibilities.
In addition to being named an R&D 100 Award finalist, The DXV collection has also been awarded by the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show as the Best in Show Gold winner in the Bath category; a Best of BDwest Product Design Award from Boutique Design; a Platinum A’ Design Award; and a Silver International Design Excellence Award (IDEA).
Related Stories
| Oct 14, 2011
AIA Continuing Education: optimizing moisture protection and air barrier systems
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and passing the online exam.
| Oct 14, 2011
MaxLite receives 2011 Lighting for Tomorrow honorable mention
The judging panel was particularly impressed with the performance of this fixture.
| Oct 12, 2011
Building a Double Wall
An aged federal building gets wrapped in a new double wall glass skin.
| Oct 11, 2011
Pink light bulbs donated to Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
For every Bulbrite Pink Light Bulb that is purchased through the Cancer Center Thrift Shop, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to help support breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.
| Oct 11, 2011
Onex completes investment in JELD-WEN
With the completion of the JELD-WEN investment, Onex Partners III is approximately 40% invested.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Dow Corning features new silicone weather barrier sealant
Modular Design Architecture >Dow Corning 758 sealant used in GreenZone modular high-performance medical facility.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: NEXT Living EcoSuite showcased
Tridel teams up with Cisco and Control4 to unveil the future of green condo living in Canada.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Kingspan Insulated Panels spotlights first-of-its-kind Environmental Product Declaration
Updates to Path to NetZero.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Johnson Controls announces Panoptix, a new approach to building efficiency
Panoptix combines latest technology, new business model and industry-leading expertise to make building efficiency easier and more accessible to a broader market.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Software an architectural game changer
Interactive modeling software transforms the designbuild process.
