3D-Printed Grips Help South Korean Archery Team Win Gold at Tokyo Olympics
Photo: Yoon-Sik Kim / Hyundai Motor Group
Supported by 3D-printed grips provided by Hyundai Motor Group, the South Korean archery team demonstrated their strength once again at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The team won gold medals in the men's team, women's team, and mixed team events at this year's Olympics, bringing the total number of medals won by South Korean archers since 1984 to 103. The Hyundai Group has provided technical support to the Korea Archery Association for over 30 years, and since the previous Rio Olympics, has utilized technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biometric data, big data, and 3D printing.
In addition to providing 3D-printed grips optimized for the athletes, Hyundai also performs non-destructive testing on the team's bows using 3D scanning technology.
The 3D-printed grips attached to the bows vary significantly by athlete, including their required shapes and materials.
Utilizing Performance Optimization Through 3D Printing and Scanning
During the preparation period for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hyundai Motor provided technical support to the South Korean archery team, supplying appropriate bows and equipment optimized for each athlete.
Hyundai's advanced 3D CT scanning equipment was used to develop a new non-destructive inspection model to analyze the team's bows. This technology measures internal damage in bows caused by repeated use by creating 3D model images. As the bow is rotated 360°, a 3D scanner takes tens of thousands of images to provide a comprehensive understanding of the bow's performance.
Hyundai Motor also improved the 3D-printed grips it has provided to the team since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Produced to match the specific hand shape of each athlete, they are now available in a wider variety of materials based on preference.
Previously made solely from synthetic resin, they are now also made using heat-resistant resins that can be customized in a short amount of time. While global printing company HP's PA12 offers excellent durability, it takes longer to manufacture. Furthermore, to enhance ease of grip, newly developed materials have been adopted, such as aluminide—a combination of aluminum and polyamide—as well as solid wood and polyurethane. According to Hyundai Motor, athletes Jin-Hyuk Oh and Woo-Jin Kim were particularly impressed with the 3D-printed grips. Their ease of use was highly rated during tests by multiple athletes, and they were used as the team's primary grips at the Tokyo Olympics.
The team won gold medals in the men's team, women's team, and mixed team events at this year's Olympics, bringing the total number of medals won by South Korean archers since 1984 to 103. The Hyundai Group has provided technical support to the Korea Archery Association for over 30 years, and since the previous Rio Olympics, has utilized technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), biometric data, big data, and 3D printing.
In addition to providing 3D-printed grips optimized for the athletes, Hyundai also performs non-destructive testing on the team's bows using 3D scanning technology.
The 3D-printed grips attached to the bows vary significantly by athlete, including their required shapes and materials.
Utilizing Performance Optimization Through 3D Printing and Scanning
During the preparation period for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hyundai Motor provided technical support to the South Korean archery team, supplying appropriate bows and equipment optimized for each athlete.
Hyundai's advanced 3D CT scanning equipment was used to develop a new non-destructive inspection model to analyze the team's bows. This technology measures internal damage in bows caused by repeated use by creating 3D model images. As the bow is rotated 360°, a 3D scanner takes tens of thousands of images to provide a comprehensive understanding of the bow's performance.
Hyundai Motor also improved the 3D-printed grips it has provided to the team since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Produced to match the specific hand shape of each athlete, they are now available in a wider variety of materials based on preference.
Previously made solely from synthetic resin, they are now also made using heat-resistant resins that can be customized in a short amount of time. While global printing company HP's PA12 offers excellent durability, it takes longer to manufacture. Furthermore, to enhance ease of grip, newly developed materials have been adopted, such as aluminide—a combination of aluminum and polyamide—as well as solid wood and polyurethane. According to Hyundai Motor, athletes Jin-Hyuk Oh and Woo-Jin Kim were particularly impressed with the 3D-printed grips. Their ease of use was highly rated during tests by multiple athletes, and they were used as the team's primary grips at the Tokyo Olympics.
Hyundai Motor Group provides and optimizes 3D grips customized for each archer using a variety of materials. Photo: Yoon-Sik Kim
3D Printing at Tokyo 2020
Beyond archery, 3D-printed equipment appeared in many events at this year's Olympics. More athletes are using this technology to gain advantages in aerodynamics, weight reduction, and time savings.
3D printing technology is being utilized particularly in track cycling. The Italian national team used the Calibry, a handheld 3D scanner developed by Russian firm Thor3D, to streamline aerodynamic design for its athletes. Sports performance brand Vorteq used Artec 3D scanners to create custom, aerodynamically enhanced skinsuits for cyclists from five different Olympic teams.
The Great Britain cycling team also rode new track bikes featuring lightweight 3D-printed end-parts designed by global engineering firms Renishaw, Lotus Engineering, and Hope Technology. Additionally, multiple athletes wore Adidas's 3D-printed optimized running shoes, the Futurecraft STRUNG, which feature an improved 3D-printed 4DFWD midsole. A 3D-printed grip was also fitted to the pistol of world champion shooter Céline Goberville.
Beyond archery, 3D-printed equipment appeared in many events at this year's Olympics. More athletes are using this technology to gain advantages in aerodynamics, weight reduction, and time savings.
3D printing technology is being utilized particularly in track cycling. The Italian national team used the Calibry, a handheld 3D scanner developed by Russian firm Thor3D, to streamline aerodynamic design for its athletes. Sports performance brand Vorteq used Artec 3D scanners to create custom, aerodynamically enhanced skinsuits for cyclists from five different Olympic teams.
The Great Britain cycling team also rode new track bikes featuring lightweight 3D-printed end-parts designed by global engineering firms Renishaw, Lotus Engineering, and Hope Technology. Additionally, multiple athletes wore Adidas's 3D-printed optimized running shoes, the Futurecraft STRUNG, which feature an improved 3D-printed 4DFWD midsole. A 3D-printed grip was also fitted to the pistol of world champion shooter Céline Goberville.
The new Hope Lotus track bike announced by British Cycling. Photo: Hope/Lotus British Cycling.Sports performance brand Vorteq is collaborating with Luxembourg-based 3D scanner manufacturer Artec 3D to create custom aerodynamic cycling apparel for athletes.
Vorteq designed what they call one of the "world's fastest" cycling suits by combining Artec's Leo 3D scanner with wind tunnel and engineering technology. Five different athletes wore these skinsuits at the Tokyo Olympics. They are designed to be lightweight, breathable, and significantly reduce drag.
Sam Quilter, a measurement engineer at Vorteq, says, "Our mission is to help elite athletes, who are already at or near the top, find 'small' improvements. Adding these up creates a real advantage, helping them surpass the peak and ultimately grasp victory." He continues, "Compared to previous scanners, the Leo has given us great flexibility. We can carry it almost anywhere. This freedom is particularly important when we need to go to locations that do not have lab-like conditions."
Vorteq designed what they call one of the "world's fastest" cycling suits by combining Artec's Leo 3D scanner with wind tunnel and engineering technology. Five different athletes wore these skinsuits at the Tokyo Olympics. They are designed to be lightweight, breathable, and significantly reduce drag.
Sam Quilter, a measurement engineer at Vorteq, says, "Our mission is to help elite athletes, who are already at or near the top, find 'small' improvements. Adding these up creates a real advantage, helping them surpass the peak and ultimately grasp victory." He continues, "Compared to previous scanners, the Leo has given us great flexibility. We can carry it almost anywhere. This freedom is particularly important when we need to go to locations that do not have lab-like conditions."
Measurement engineer Sam Quilter 3D-scanning a cyclist with the Artec Leo. Image: Vorteq
Artec 3D Scanning
Artec 3D has been repeatedly nominated for 3D Printing Industry Awards, and nominations for this year's awards are still open. The company’s product lineup includes the Eva, Space Spider, Leo, and Ray, catering to a wide range of applications.
Artec’s scanners have been used for reverse engineering parts at the Marinebedrijf Koninklijke Marine (the materiel and asset maintenance department of the Royal Netherlands Navy), as well as by Triebold Paleontology for the digital preservation of a 26-foot-long Stegosaurus at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They are also used in automotive restoration and for 3D-scanning entire dolphins, sharks, and large sea turtles to create custom tracking tags to gather information on migration patterns and the impact of seawater temperatures.
Artec 3D has been repeatedly nominated for 3D Printing Industry Awards, and nominations for this year's awards are still open. The company’s product lineup includes the Eva, Space Spider, Leo, and Ray, catering to a wide range of applications.
Artec’s scanners have been used for reverse engineering parts at the Marinebedrijf Koninklijke Marine (the materiel and asset maintenance department of the Royal Netherlands Navy), as well as by Triebold Paleontology for the digital preservation of a 26-foot-long Stegosaurus at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. They are also used in automotive restoration and for 3D-scanning entire dolphins, sharks, and large sea turtles to create custom tracking tags to gather information on migration patterns and the impact of seawater temperatures.
The Artec Leo 3D scanner displaying athlete scan images at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub, powered by Artec Studio software. Image: Vorteq.
3D Scanning for Aerodynamics
In the world of high-performance cycling, speed is everything, and victory or defeat can be decided in a split second. With every pedal stroke on the track, the athlete is battling wind and resistance. Reports indicate that up to 90% of an athlete's output energy is spent overcoming air resistance, making the reduction of drag key.
Vorteq uses sports-specific and textile-specific wind tunnels at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH) along with the latest 3D scanning technology to create custom cycling apparel that is comfortable, light, and breathable while reducing drag.
Artec 3D's handheld scanner, the Artec Leo, is a crucial element in apparel design. It can digitize an athlete's precise body shape in under 6 minutes. Featuring a built-in touchscreen and capturing at 44 frames per second, it can scan medium-sized objects, including people, in minutes.
Quilter states, "When an athlete brings their bike into the wind tunnel, sets it on the rig, and gets on, we can capture two postures as accurate, high-resolution color 3D images in just 5 to 6 minutes. This means we can finish all the necessary work for the athlete within 10 minutes, after which they can move on. We have everything we need to design ergonomically sound, bullet-fast Vorteq apparel. We have never needed to re-scan."
For skinsuit production, Vorteq uses the Artec Leo scan data directly. Because they obtain precise body data of the athlete, they can avoid inaccurate measurements. Afterward, they perform post-processing in Artec Studio, where engineers review the data in detail to remove rare errors or unwanted captured data, such as wrinkles. Quilter continues, "When an athlete comes in, we scan them with the Leo, post-process in Artec Studio, perform 3D modeling in Geomagic Wrap, and finally output a 3D model for skinsuit production. The entire process takes about 2 hours. Previously, this was impossible—that amount of time would have been nowhere near enough. Total production time for a competitive skinsuit is currently 2 days, but we are continuing to reduce it. Our goal is 24 hours, and I am confident we will achieve that soon."
In the world of high-performance cycling, speed is everything, and victory or defeat can be decided in a split second. With every pedal stroke on the track, the athlete is battling wind and resistance. Reports indicate that up to 90% of an athlete's output energy is spent overcoming air resistance, making the reduction of drag key.
Vorteq uses sports-specific and textile-specific wind tunnels at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH) along with the latest 3D scanning technology to create custom cycling apparel that is comfortable, light, and breathable while reducing drag.
Artec 3D's handheld scanner, the Artec Leo, is a crucial element in apparel design. It can digitize an athlete's precise body shape in under 6 minutes. Featuring a built-in touchscreen and capturing at 44 frames per second, it can scan medium-sized objects, including people, in minutes.
Quilter states, "When an athlete brings their bike into the wind tunnel, sets it on the rig, and gets on, we can capture two postures as accurate, high-resolution color 3D images in just 5 to 6 minutes. This means we can finish all the necessary work for the athlete within 10 minutes, after which they can move on. We have everything we need to design ergonomically sound, bullet-fast Vorteq apparel. We have never needed to re-scan."
For skinsuit production, Vorteq uses the Artec Leo scan data directly. Because they obtain precise body data of the athlete, they can avoid inaccurate measurements. Afterward, they perform post-processing in Artec Studio, where engineers review the data in detail to remove rare errors or unwanted captured data, such as wrinkles. Quilter continues, "When an athlete comes in, we scan them with the Leo, post-process in Artec Studio, perform 3D modeling in Geomagic Wrap, and finally output a 3D model for skinsuit production. The entire process takes about 2 hours. Previously, this was impossible—that amount of time would have been nowhere near enough. Total production time for a competitive skinsuit is currently 2 days, but we are continuing to reduce it. Our goal is 24 hours, and I am confident we will achieve that soon."
A designed and manufactured Vorteq skinsuit. Image: Vorteq.
With the Artec Leo, Vorteq can also 3D-print mannequins that are anatomically accurate replicas of the athlete's body, allowing them to create skinsuits without needing a fitting. Using mannequins, they can test multiple fabrics and styles in the wind tunnel, then finish an athlete-specific skinsuit and have it delivered to their home within hours. Currently, this process takes less than 2 days, but the company hopes to shorten the time from 3D scan to completion to 24 hours in the future.
"For example, we can put fabric on just one arm of a life-size mannequin to perform wind tunnel tests and see how different fabrics and patterns affect drag reduction," explains Quilter. This is where the accumulation of small improvements really shines. In the wind tunnel, actual athletes move, and even the slightest movement affects the results. You cannot get the same measurement accuracy from a living athlete that you can from a completely stationary mannequin where you only change the fabric being worn. Previously, Vorteq focused only on Olympic representatives and elite athletes, but since early 2020, they have been offering custom apparel to cyclists of all experience levels to help them achieve their best performance.
"For example, we can put fabric on just one arm of a life-size mannequin to perform wind tunnel tests and see how different fabrics and patterns affect drag reduction," explains Quilter. This is where the accumulation of small improvements really shines. In the wind tunnel, actual athletes move, and even the slightest movement affects the results. You cannot get the same measurement accuracy from a living athlete that you can from a completely stationary mannequin where you only change the fabric being worn. Previously, Vorteq focused only on Olympic representatives and elite athletes, but since early 2020, they have been offering custom apparel to cyclists of all experience levels to help them achieve their best performance.
Components of a Vorteq mannequin, ready to be assembled for wind tunnel testing. Photo: Vorteq.
How 3D Printing Contributes to Olympic Results
To date, multiple Olympic athletes have adopted 3D printing for personalized equipment to save time and reduce weight. For example, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's 3D-printed running shoes were showcased at the previous Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The latest 3D-printed 4DFWD midsole from Adidas and 3D printer manufacturer Carbon was also worn by multiple athletes at this year's Tokyo Olympics.
The French Cycling Federation has introduced 3D-printed custom handlebars to increase aerodynamic efficiency. Global engineering firm Renishaw collaborated with Lotus Engineering and Hope Technology to design a new track bike for the British team. Recently, the Italian national team revealed that they improved the aerodynamic performance of their bikes before the Tokyo Olympics using Russian handheld 3D scanners.
To date, multiple Olympic athletes have adopted 3D printing for personalized equipment to save time and reduce weight. For example, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's 3D-printed running shoes were showcased at the previous Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The latest 3D-printed 4DFWD midsole from Adidas and 3D printer manufacturer Carbon was also worn by multiple athletes at this year's Tokyo Olympics.
The French Cycling Federation has introduced 3D-printed custom handlebars to increase aerodynamic efficiency. Global engineering firm Renishaw collaborated with Lotus Engineering and Hope Technology to design a new track bike for the British team. Recently, the Italian national team revealed that they improved the aerodynamic performance of their bikes before the Tokyo Olympics using Russian handheld 3D scanners.
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- Contact Us -
3DMart offers more than just 3D printing. We provide three contract services: "3D Printing Manufacturing Service," "3D Scanning Service," and "Spatial 3D Scanning Service"!
Follow our social media for the latest updates:
Facebook | Instagram | Threads