3D printed crocs

YouTuber combines speed and style with custom 3D printed Crocs

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YouTuber Austen Hartley has designed and 3D printed his own pair of custom, low-cost Crocs.

Armed with nothing but a run-of-the-mill desktop FFF 3D printer and flexible TPU filament, the mechanical engineer spent a few hours of his free time drafting the shoes up using Fusion 360 CAD software.

Since he didn’t even own a pair of original Crocs, the 3D models Hartley designed were based on memories and photos of the real thing. However, this allowed him to integrate a number of custom design alterations such as embossed wording, a high-grip sole, and even a spoiler on the rear. Silly? I prefer revolutionary.

Hartley said, “I didn’t spend copious amounts of time and energy in engineering school to not put those skills to good use. I usually make stuff that’s boring but every now and then I like to actually come in and make something that’s just fun.”

Austen Hartley with his 3D printed Crocs. Photo via Austen Hartley.

3D printing the Crocs

As preposterous as the project may seem, there was actually a surprisingly high level of engineering knowledge that went into making the Crocs as comfortable as possible.

When it comes to wearables like shoes, rigid polymers like ABS or PETG aren’t the best material of choice. Instead, Hartley opted for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which is well-known for its flexibility and elasticity. This allows the polymer to morph under load and bounce back to its original shape when the load is taken off: just what you want from a pair of shoes.

To fine-tune the springiness of the 3D printed Crocs, Hartley also customized the thickness and density of the soles. The first iteration of the Crocs was printed with 40% infill, which is actually a relatively high density considering the application at hand. Upon testing the shoes, he found that 40% was far too rigid for comfortable long-term wear since the Crocs didn’t offer enough flexibility to conform to the curvature of his feet. After much trial and error, he eventually settled on an infill of 25% for the soles, which translated to a much more comfortable walking experience.

Additionally, since the prints weren’t completely solid, the build benefitted from less material usage and a shorter print time.

The 3D printed Crocs feature a number of add-ons designed to increase speed and handling. Photo via Austen Hartley.

Adding a little flair into the mix

What’s the point in designing a product from scratch if it’s just going to be a direct copy of something that already exists? To personalize his Crocs, Hartley also 3D printed a few additional accessories to provide that much needed flair.

The first of the additions was a piece of text, ‘Sport Mode’, along with a hand drawn arrow element to let everyone know the Crocs meant business. He also glued textured grips onto the bottom of the soles for added traction, while clipping a 3D printed sports car spoiler onto the back for maneuverability. Clearly, speed is the name of the game.

Hartley concluded, “I could actually wear these around and I’m not just saying that. Are they the best? Absolutely not. Would they be that comfortable? Probably not after a long time, but they do serve the purpose of just being a shoe. I’m limited in the actual testing of these because it’s basically -30°C outside here in Canada, but I’m surprised at the success of this project. I think it worked out really good.”

It should be noted that a popular YouTuber by the name of Unnecessary Inventions actually created a pair of Croc gloves back in 2019. But he was quickly slapped with a cease and desist order from the footwear brand.

The YouTube community really is a great source of innovation when it comes to technologies such as 3D printing. Just this month, YouTuber Akaki Kuumeri created a 3D printed adapter for the PS5 DualSense controller that enables users to play games one-handed. The add-on can be applied non-destructively to game controllers in order to allow for non-standard hand positions and make playing video games more accessible to those with physical disabilities.

Elsewhere, YouTuber Integza has previously used 3D printing technology to develop a low-cost functional rocket engine inspired by an old, experimental Nazi design. Based on the engine of a 1930s German aircraft called the Heinkel He 176, the 3D printed rocket engine doesn’t rely on burning fuel or combustion at all, instead generating its thrust via a volatile chemical reaction.

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Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.

Featured image shows the 3D printed Crocs. Photo via Austen Hartley.

Tags Austen Hartley Crocs fusion 360

Kubi Sertoglu

Kubi Sertoglu holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, combining an affinity for writing with a technical background to deliver the latest news and reviews in additive manufacturing.

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Unique 3D printed velcro boots for only $49

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Probably, if you were told a year ago that soon we would wear printed shoes, you would laugh to tears. You would say that 3D printers can only print hard plastic objects, and not comfortable and beautiful shoes that are pleasant to walk in.

But that was a year ago. Now everything has changed. Consumer 3D printers have gotten better, and the choice of materials - and most importantly - has expanded to the point where manufacturers have virtually no limits. With the advent of flexible fibers such as NinjaFlex and FilaFlex, it has become possible to print things for a wide variety of uses.

So if you are now told that we will soon be wearing printed shoes, then you will most likely answer that this is more than likely.

Over the past year, a lot of 3D models of shoes have appeared on the marketplaces, and news sites are full of relevant headlines. Suffice it to think of Feetz, which plans to launch custom footwear production by Christmas 2014, or Sneakerbot II sneakers, whose blueprints can be downloaded and printed for free. And all this thanks to the creators of the flexible fiber FilaFlex.

New 3D printed shoe by Michel Badia from MyMiniFactory. He came up with unusual Velcro boots and called them "Leopard Boots". Anyone can download and print them out of NinjaFlex fiber for free, or purchase a pre-made pair directly from MyMiniFactory for just $49.

"We designed these boots to showcase the power of NinjaFlex, a new flexible fiber that allows you to achieve amazing results and create truly unique things," says MyMiniFactory's Reese Calder. – We do not intend to stop there. Now, for example, you can make sandals. In fact, the possibilities are endless. These boots were printed on a Makerbot Replicator 2 3D printer in 30 hours, as loading NinjaFlex takes longer to print.”

Manufacturers claim that the boots are very comfortable and suitable for everyday use. Even though we don't get a chance to try them on, they are somewhat reminiscent of Crocs sneakers. What do you think? Would you like to buy these shoes for $49, or even better, print them on your 3D printer? Share your opinion with us in the comments below.

Article prepared for 3DToday.ru

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