Case Study: Scherf Design achieves a lightweight, wearable 3D-printed metal high heel with Materialise 3-matic Lightweight Structures

Lightweight Structures Support Scherf Design to Reach New Heights

Scherf Design, a Cologne-based innovative design company, sought to create a distinctive, wearable metal high heel that could withstand real-world pressures while remaining lightweight. To reach this goal they partnered with Materialise and used Materialise 3-matic software together with its Lightweight Structures module.

Materialise co-created the final model with Scherf Design over a five-month project, using 3-matic to generate an internal honeycomb structure and external curved connecting lines that were then 3D printed in metal by Layerwise. The Materialise solution allowed scalable honeycomb patterning for strength-to-weight optimization; the finished, wearable heel was successfully produced, shown at EuroMold 2013 and is now being used for test marketing to potential customers and high-end luxury shoe manufacturers.

Scherf Design