By Péralte C. Paul
United Sciences, a Graduate Company of the Advanced Technology Development Center, recently presented its 3D, in-ear scanning solution at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
The company, whose technology allows for custom-made silicone headphones, makes its molds simultaneously on four MakerBot Replicator Mini 3D printers. That cuts down mold production time to 20 minutes, plus another 30 minutes to assemble. That’s compared with the four hours it now takes using an industrial 3D printer.
“Right now, to get a custom in-ear monitor, someone has to go to an audiologist, get a silicone impression, and ship it to the manufacturer,” said Karol Hatzilias, the company’s co-founder and chief science officer. “They 3D scan the silicone, print a shell, stuff the electronics, and ship it back to the customer. That whole process usually takes one to two weeks. The 3D printing step is just a small piece of what we were demonstrating.
United Sciences unveiled its 3D digital ear scanning solution at the CES and NAMM events. The solution creates a virtual impression of a person’s outer ear and is based on technology developed by Hatzilias. (United Sciences was formerly called ShapeStart and changed to 3DM before adopting its current name.)
That helps its partners build premium, custom-fitting in-ear devices such as headphones, hearing aids and protective appliances.
For more info on the United Sciences’ NAMM and and CES trade show presentations, please follow this link.