Case Study: Vuzix Shield achieves stable, stylish smart eyewear with Materialise's 3D-printed titanium bridge

Fashion. Function. Fit. Meet the Vuzix Shield and Its 3D-Printed Titanium Bridge

The customer, Vuzix, a leader in smart glasses, faced a significant challenge in designing their Vuzix Shield product. They needed the frame's central bridge to provide pixel-perfect alignment for the displays, requiring extreme rigidity, stability, and a fashionable style that traditional injection-molded plastics could not achieve. They partnered with vendor Materialise to find a solution that offered the necessary strength without compromising on form or function.

Materialise implemented a solution using their metal 3D printing and design for AM expertise to create a 3D-printed titanium bridge. This material provided the required strength and a premium look, while the additive manufacturing process enabled a rapid, iterative design phase and production with incredible accuracy of over 0.1 mm. The result was a successful hybrid frame that is rigid, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing, allowing Vuzix to bring their high-quality, production-ready smart glasses to market in only three months.

Vuzix Shield

Shane Porzio

VP of Engineering