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The eyewear industry is a dynamic and expanding market that offers a variety of products and services to consumers, including eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. The industry is expected to grow at 8.4% yearly, becoming a nearly $300 billion (USD) market by 2030.
Custom eyewear, driven by trends
There are many factors driving growth in the eyewear industry including an aging population and increased access to medical care. But like other segments, the market is also benefiting from changing lifestyle patterns and improvements to the shopping experience. Consumers are also becoming more exposed to the benefits of personalization, and this is driving demand for custom eyewear, including custom glasses and custom sunglasses.
Challenges in manufacturing eyewear frames
Eyewear frames manufacturers face several challenges in this dynamic and competitive market:
- Personalization: There are limited design choices in some cases in eyewear design and having personalized glasses is key to fit the individual's needs.
- High production costs: The production of eyewear products requires high-quality materials, skilled labor, and advanced technology.
- Environmental regulations: Eyewear products have an environmental impact due to the use of plastic, metal, and other materials. The manufacturers have to comply with the environmental regulations and standards set by the governments and agencies.
- Evolving wearable technology: The emergence of smart glasses that offer augmented reality and other features poses a threat to conventional eyewear products. Smart glasses have the potential to disrupt the eyewear market by offering enhanced functionality and wearability at an affordable cost.
Traditional methods are not ideal for custom glasses
Injection molding is the traditional method used for producing glasses due to its cost-effectiveness per unit when manufacturing high-volumes. However, the primary limitation of injection molding lies in its ability to provide customized glasses.
3D printed glasses are the next big thing
3D printed glasses are an emerging trend in eyewear. 3D printed eyewear offers many benefits for consumers and manufacturers alike. Since additive manufacturing is a digital technology, it can enable products that are customized or even personalized to fit the individual needs and preferences of each consumer. With 3D printed glasses frames, brands can offer different shapes, colors, styles, and materials, enabling customers to create their own unique eyewear.
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When paired with other technologies, including eCommerce, virtual reality, and 3D scanning, 3D printed glasses become even more exciting. Using those technologies, companies can remove friction from the order experience and enable users to “try before they buy,” or even create unique custom products. Together, these tools can enhance the perception of value and create a sense of ownership by allowing consumers to design bespoke products.
Benefits of additive manufacturing
Innovative companies are already using additive manufacturing to 3D print glasses. Having the ability to 3D print glasses offers many benefits, including:
- Customization: 3D printed eyewear can be tailored to fit the individual needs and preferences of the customers. They can choose from different shapes, colors, styles, and materials to create their own unique eyewear.
- Affordability: When manufactured in batches, 3D printed frames and other components can be produced at a lower cost than with traditional methods. 3D printing requires less material, labor, and transportation costs. 3D printed glasses can also be printed on demand, reducing inventory and waste.
- Durability: 3D printed eyewear can be made from strong and flexible materials that can withstand impact and wear and tear. They can also be easily repaired or replaced if damaged.
How 3D printed glasses can even decrease return rate
In general, return rates for consumer products hover around 16%, but in the eyewear industry, return rates can exceed 30% or more. There are several reasons for this, including aesthetics, an incorrect prescription, and improper fit. Progressive lenses can be even more challenging. With an error point located in the center of the lens, they are even more prone to returns.
With tools like 3D scanning and virtual reality, the eyewear industry can prevent many of the fashion and comfort issues that drive returns. With 3D printing, they can also develop custom-fitted frames that properly align progressive lenses with an individual’s pupils. 3D printed glasses frames can also reduce or eliminate production issues with centering and edging, and problems fitting the lens to the frame; all of which can drastically reduce returns.
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3D printed eyewear creates opportunities for companies of all sizes
For startups in the eyewear industry, 3D printing offers several advantages. In the early stages of product development, additive manufacturing can support innovation and prototyping, which shortens R&D cycles by allowing eyewear brands to create and test multiple designs.
Additive manufacturing can also be used to customize or modify existing products, extending their life and creating new revenue opportunities. Most importantly, 3D printing can be used to produce final products. This helps companies avoid the prohibitive costs of making molds and other tooling needed for use with traditional methods. At the same time, 3D printing can also help reduce lead times, providing a speed-to-market advantage, and enabling novel designs and materials, which provides further differentiation.
Supercharge 3D printed frames with HP Multi Jet Fusion
Expanding on the potential of additive manufacturing, HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology offers several distinct advantages:
- Personalization: HP's MJF technology allows industrial designers to utilize unique geometries to create customized 3D printed frames.
- Design freedom: HP's MJF technology allows for the building of parts additively, layer by layer which gives new freedom in how companies can design parts versus other subtractive technologies that are more limited in what they can produce.
- High quality parts at scale: HP's 3D Printing Solution is a scalable solution enabling high part production while keeping costs low.
Metal 3D printed glasses, frames, and components
In the eyewear industry, metals are often used to create frames and other components including nose pads, hinges, and more. Utilizing HP’s Metal Jet technology, eyewear brands can create intricate designs, add decorative accents, and metal parts.
Services further accelerate 3D printed glasses
HP offers more than hardware and materials. The company also provides professional services that can help startups and established brands fast-track their additive manufacturing efforts. Working with HP, they can quickly identify and plan for technical challenges throughout their workflow, eliminating much of the pain and effort they experience when starting at square one.
How do companies 3D print glasses today?
Many companies are already using HP Multi Jet Fusion technology to assist with the development of eyewear.
Creax Design gets colorful with 3D printed sunglasses
Creax Design is the product innovation studio located in Barcelona, Spain that developed Liq Eyewear, a line of 3D printed sunglasses with unique design and mechanical features. Among other features, Liq Eyewear’s custom sunglasses are offered in a variety of colors; made possible by HP’s Jet Fusion 5420W 3D Printing Solution. Instead of black, it uses material HP 3D High Reusability PA 12 W that’s easy to dye and paint.
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“We looked at other 3D printing technologies, but they weren’t professional enough for our needs", says Josep Mateo Muñoz, founder and creative director of Creax Design. “With HP MJF we can produce high-quality, consumer-oriented products that are sustainable and light. Post-processing is also a vitally important step and HP’s new white material empowers us to create beautiful, eye-appealing finishes, further enhancing the value of our products.”
Meidai offers 3D printed sunglasses and glasses
Hangzhou MEIDAI Technology Co., Ltd. (“MEIDAI”) is a fashion technology startup that specializes in designing and selling fashionable, personalized eyewear from their website. They originally planned to rely on traditional manufacturing technologies, but quickly realized that the number of steps involved was cost-prohibitive. Then Meidai discovered how HP MJF could help them realize their vision for cost-effective mass customization.
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See how 3D printed sunglasses and 3D printed glasses helped Meidai deliver on their brand promise of affordable, high quality, personalized glasses.
Horizons Optical develops 3D printed glasses frames
Horizons Optical 3D printed glasses are another type of customized eyewear made possible by 3D printing. Horizons Optical develops innovative technologies and services for the optical industry, such as the “Made4U” concept, which uses 3D scanning and 3D printing to create personalized eyewear based on unique physical characteristics, visual needs, and personal taste. With HP MJF, they were able to produce custom eyewear in 12 days compared to the five or six months it takes for mass production.
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Learn more about how 3D printed glasses enabled mass personalization and created a competitive edge for Horizons Optical.
Breezm leverages HP MJF to make custom sunglasses and glasses
Breezm uses artificial intelligence and advanced 3D printing and scanning technologies to create custom eyewear that fits the exact facial features and preferences of its customers. Breezm 3D printed frames offer extreme comfort, high quality, and leading-edge design. HP’s 3D printing technology makes it possible.
Learn more about how Breezm used HP Multi Jet Fusion to manufacture 3D printed glasses.
Interested in learning more about 3D printed glasses? Contact an expert and learn how you can reinvent your eyewear business with HP 3D Printing.
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Footnotes and disclaimers
- Data courtesy of Liq Eyewear
- Data courtesy of Breezm
- Data courtesy of Meidai
- Data courtesy of Horizons Optical