ABOUT 3D PRINTING SERVICE WINDFORM 3D PRINTING MATERIALS CASE STUDIES NEWS QUALITY CONTACT Pleko, the revolutionary spike shoes made in Carbon fiber filled 3D printing composite Share on CRP TECHNOLOGY HAS BUILT AS SINGLE UNIT THE STRUCTURAL PART OF PLEKO SPIKE SHOES: OUTSOLE, MIDSOLE, PINS AND RIBBING. THE RESULT IS A FUNCTIONAL PROTOTYPE, FLEXIBLE AND RESISTANT TO DEFORMATION EVEN IN THIN THICKNESSES, WHICH IS INNOVATIVE FOR CUSTOMIZATION, TECHNOLOGIES AND MATERIAL USED: CARBON FIBER REINFORCED WINDFORM® SP COMPOSITE. Venetian middle-distance runner Miro Buroni, achieving his university studies, decided to combine his two great passions: athletics and design. Using a completely new and revolutionary concept for the athletics footwear market, he thus developed Pleko, customized athletics track shoes (in jargon, spike shoes) with innovative features in terms of production technology and material. To create Pleko, Miro made use of the skills and support of two companies, Diadora for historical analysis and design; CRP Technology for the manufacture of the outsole-midsole and ribbing, through professional 3D printing (Powder Bed Fusion process with composite polymers fibers-reinforced, that is Selective Laser Sintering) and Windform® TOP-LINE composite materials. PROCESS OF CREATION: DATA TO DESIGN BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS AND 3D SCANNING The creation of Pleko starts with the three-dimensional scan of the athlete’s foot. This is followed by the biomechanical analysis of the act of running and footing through the 3D foot scan. The result is a series of mathematical, real data, which are used to create a customized product. “With this mapping – Buroni comments – we are able to model the shoe on the individual’s needs in terms of foot structure and athletic performance. Moreover, scanning and biomechanical analysis allow us to understand the best placement of the “traction system” under the outsole, the “pins”. Pleko, side view. On the left: 3D printed main structure in Windform® SP. Right: finished footwear. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni STUDY ON RIBBING A fundamental requirement of Pleko is the perfect cohesion between the sole-midsole part and the upper part that envelops the foot. This compactness is favored by a series of ribs originated from under the outsole, in correspondence with the lines of maximum effort during the track race. The result is a structure similar to a cage. Its purpose is: support the foot to improve running technique; convey the kinetic energy and minimize its dispersion, ensuring the perfect adherence between the foot and the act of running Pleko, back view. On the left 3D printed main structure in Windform® SP. Right: finished footwear. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni STUDY ON LACES Ribbing is followed by the study on laces. The correspondence between ribbing/strength trajectories and the adherence produced by the laces, allows a total envelopment of the shoe around the feet. It may happen that insufficient traction, or the wrong manufacturing material causes energy dispersion. It does not occur with Pleko, that ensures the best kinetic chain. Pleko, ribbing, upper side, details. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni MANUFACTURE OF THE OUTSOLE, MIDSOLE AND RIBBING THE RESEARCH OF MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY When the project is ready, Buroni decides to use additive manufacturing to build the supporting structure of the Pleko. Thus, he focuses on finding a company able to provide professional 3D printing service and a material with “strong characteristics of resistance to bending“. So, “after a brief research – Buroni adds – it immediately became clear that CRP Technology was the perfect company for my project, and that one of CRP Technology’s top composite materials, Windform® SP, was the ideal solution for me.” Windform® SP is a Carbon fiber filled composite material for PBF Laser Sintering technology with excellent characteristics of resistance to deformation and flexibility: “the right features for the athletics track shoes.” Pleko track spikes with outsole, midsole, pins and ribbing 3D printed as single unit in Carbon fiber filled composite material Windform® SP. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni RELEVANCE OF WINDFORM® SP MATERIAL The manufacturing material plays an important role: the results of the investigation on the force transmitted to the track shoes during the track race and the connected requirements, confirmed that the success of the project would depend on the manufacturing material for the outsole, midsole and ribbing. Just a material with excellent mechanical characteristics would have allowed Buroni to create innovative 3D printed track shoes. This material is Windform® SP. “Windform® SP – Miro adds – guarantees excellent resistance even in very thin thicknesses; this feature has allowed me to create a spike shoes with a perfect foot envelopment, that facilitates an increase of the comfort and the enhancement of the performance. Pleko track spikes with structural part 3D printed as single unit using Carbon fiber filled composite material Windform® SP. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni PECULIARITIES OF THE 3D PRINTED PART IN WINDFORM® SP: THE RIBBING, PINS AND TINY PINS FOR GRIP CRP Technology manufactures as single unit Pleko’s outsole, midsole, ribs – originate from under the outsole – and pins. Thanks to the ribbing, the structure in Windform® SP embraces the athlete’s foot like a cage, which envelops the foot and facilitate improvements in the running technique. The ribs are responsible for carrying the kinetic energy releases from the biomechanical movement during the track race, and preventing its dispersion. Buroni specifies: “The spike shoes consist of a sole with midsole and upper. These parts, which are one, under strain become two distinct bodies that generate asynchronous and dissipating movements of the athlete’s kinetic chain. Pleko avoid this occurrence because of the part in Windform® SP, which has inside the sock-like upper, almost completely detached from the structure and responsible for protecting the foot. Pleko track spikes with structural part 3D printed as single unit using Windform® SP. Courtesy Miro Buroni “During the track race – Buroni adds – a considerable force is released on the spike shoes, generated by the load produced by the kinetic chain of the athlete’s body. The pins on the sole let to dissipate minimal force, but the stress on the shoes is maximum. This solicitation is essential to improve running and track race performance.” Pleko track spikes with structural part 3D printed as single unit using Windform® SP. Outsole with pins and grip optimizing parts. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni It is therefore clear that the manufacturing material for the structural part of the track shoes must resistant optimally to stress and deformation. “Thanks to the pins under the outsole – adds Miro – the “cage” in Windform® SP allows the athlete to develop as much strength as possible, without losing energy. I positioned the deepest pins in the points of superior pressure of the feet against the ground. I also put smaller studs in other parts of the outsole: these studs are essential for the stability of the track shoes.” Pleko track spikes with structural part 3D printed as single unit using Windform® SP. Outsole with pins and grip optimizing parts. Courtesy CRP Technology/Miro Buroni Once the structural part was 3D printed, other tests were carried out on the Pleko. Buroni said he was very satisfied with the results achieved: “The design and manufacturing technologies, combined with the Windform® SP and its mechanical characteristics, made the Pleko track shoes highly innovative, taking the design and planning to the highest level of customization and specialization. I am very satisfied with my 3D printed Pleko and Windform® SP.” ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: INJURIES PREVENTION, PROTECTION AND REHABILITATION The improvement of comfort brings to a new mode to consider and manage injuries prevention, rehabilitation and protection. Buroni comments: “Thanks to the manufacturing technologies and the Windform® SP, the design of Pleko has been brought to the maximum level of specialization and customization. Pleko respond to the individual needs of the athlete: they can support rehabilitation activities for a previous injury, but also help to correct an imperfect running, reducing the chances of future injury.” CRP Group Network Latest News and Events CRP Technology showcasing at Ultraromanticismo For the fourth section of the art exhibition dedicated to the museums and histor... CRP Technology speaker at 2021 Pocketqube Workshop virtual edition For the second time in a row, CRP Technology representative will be attending Al... CRP Technology attends MotorsportAM 2021 CRP Technology representative attends the 2021 edition as a virtual speaker; he... CRP Technology selected for the 3D Printing Industry Awards 2021 After the victory in 2019, CRP Technology is shortlisted again for the prestigio... CRP Technology virtual speaker at SpaceAM 2021 The innovator 3D printing company will be attend the 2 days-event dedicated to a... Latest Case Studies Pleko, the revolutionary spike shoes made in Carbon fiber filled 3D printing composite Windform 3D printed visor frame for Made in Italy protective face shields Quality control system’s functional component in Windform Successful use of Windform in the manufacturing of Driver Airbag (DAB) housing Fruitful use of Windform in the creation of functional PocketQube deployer COPYRIGHT© - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CRP TECHNOLOGY S.r.l. | 150/C, VIA CESARE DELLA CHIESA | 41126 MODENA, ITALY | Company Reg Modena/VAT IT03344960368 | Fully paid up capital Euro 80.000 PRIVACY NOTICE | COOKIE POLICY| SALES TERMS Notice We and selected third parties use cookies or similar technologies for technical purposes and, with your consent, for other purposes as specified in the cookie policy. You can consent to the use of such technologies by closing this notice, by scrolling this page, by interacting with any link or button outside of this notice or by continuing to browse otherwise. ×