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Costume Footwear Series: 3D Printed Shoes

Printing your own shoes is a slowly growing hobby, but it can be a bit dubious because 3D printing can be finicky and it could be dangerous. Most beginner friendly 3D shoes include slides, flip-flops, or sneakers. There are a few high heels that I have seen, but when it comes to shoe making, this is a style of shoe that is difficult to design properly and safely even in regular shoemaking. 

Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks of 3D printed shoes: 

  • Accurate replication of shoe parts
  • Durable material, suitable for outdoor or indoor use
  • Flexible to firm
  • Orthopedic Friendly
  • Many files available
Drawbacks
  • Flexible filament difficult to print with for beginners
  • May need a specialized 3D printer
  • Can be more expensive for simple style shoes (Think, A few dollars for a pair of flip-flops versus one you print yourself that have a high investment cost.) 
  • Disconnect between digital and physical models
  • Takes a LONG time to print a shoe

What you need to 3D Print Shoes

An FDM printer with enough print volume for your shoe size and an extruder close to the hotend/nozzle (if printing with TPU)
TPU 75a - 95a 
TPU High Speed 70a - 95a
Flexible PLA*
Patience

*Reportedly can be printed with a bowden tube style FDM printer instead of the direct one. 

Note: Some parts of a shoe can be printed with hardened plastics like PLA, ABS, or PETG or even resin. Particularly armor parts, spurs, charms or other non-flexible things. Just keep in mind that the foot is a very flexy part of the body and anything that doesn't bend may break. 

How I approach 3D printed Shoes

For costumes I'm likely going to make a fabric or yarn shoe over a completely 3D printed shoe. I only look to 3D print a sole or insole when it comes to shoes. 3D printing gives me a nice firm but flexible base similar to EVA foam...but I don't have to cut. 

So far I have made a pair of knitting soles for a pair of slippers. But I am also making a pair of zori sandals. I shall update with more on that later. 

Here are links to the knitting soles I printed: 

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