Thursday, 10 Jan 2019 14:09 GMT

Raising the profile of blood cancer

The latest firm to utilise 3D printing technology has brought a blood cancer campaign to life by highlighting the invisible nature of the disease.

Life-size transparent figures stood tall in sites around the country, illustrating what is happening inside the bodies of those suffering with blood cancer as part of the Make Blood Cancer Visible campaign.

Fluxaxis 3D printed two life-size master figures for its client Windsor Workshop, an art fabrication company, which in turn created moulds to produce a series of ten life-size human bodies.

Taking just eight hours to print using the Massivit’s 1800, 3D printing company Fluxaxis then smoothed and coated the figures in a silicone and a rigid GRP casing was applied to create the moulds for the client.

Using the robust acrylic material allowed the firm to create the moulds without fear of breaking the initial figures, but still allowed Fluxaxis to add detailing for facial features and clothing creases.

The final figures were internally lit and used sensor sound technology to talk to the public walking past, using real-life recordings from people with the disease

The dual-head capabilities of Massivit’s 3D printer allowed Fluxaxis to cut production times in half, by printing sections simultaneously. Windsor Workshop then created the figures using a clear polyester resin reinforced with glass tissue.

The final figures were internally lit and used sensor sound technology to talk to the public walking past, using real-life recordings from people with the disease. 

The campaign travelled to key locations across London, Cardiff, Manchester and Edinburgh for pharmaceutical company Janssen, inviting those suffering with the disease, or those with friends or family members who are, to share their stories of blood cancer and make it more visible.

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