Jorge Cartes Sanhueza

Moldable is a flexible forming manufacturing system for mass customisation. It is a mould with the ability to modify its surface shape according to the variation of human measurement as inputs for a specific product.

It is a human-centred manufacturing system which has as a key value: the capability to vary the shape of the product directly on the production line. These variations are based on data coming from individual users measurements, allowing the mass production of bespoke products, like a helmet, without losing the speed, low-cost focus and efficiency of any other mass production technique.

In order to apply the proposed system, the case study chosen to illustrate the impact of this technology is the development of a helmet liner. The aim of this experimental design project (EXP) is to improve the fitting of products closely related to the human body. However, the impact of this technology is intended to go further, and the final goal is to provide the level of viability implemented by the system in other functional products intimately related with human bodies. 

As a manufacturing system, Moldable intends to improve the  efficiency at the moment to provide customised products, keeping all the attributes of a mass manufacturing technique, in order to be competitive with the emerging additive manufacturing technologies. I personally believe that we can not put all our efforts in only one technology, and for this reason, this project pays attention to the moulding systems.

Equally important for the system is the goal to provide comfortability, best fitting, good performance and a better user experience for the end user. Always keeping the focus on human factors as key elements to be modified during the production, without affecting the costs, which are generally assumed by the customer.