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Carbon 3D prints stuff that's squishy, springy and comes in unusual shapes

Here's a look at the shoes, football helmets, water pumps and false teeth this startup's 3D printers can make.

stephenshankland.jpg
stephenshankland.jpg
Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland has been a reporter at CNET since 1998 and writes about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Stephen Shankland
Carbon can 3D print customized dental products. These were made of two materials later glued together.
1 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D teeth

Carbon can 3D print customized dental products. These were made of two materials later glued together.

Carbon 3D's new L1 printers are used to make things like Adidas running shoe midsoles and custom-shaped shock absorbers for Riddell football helmets.
2 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D L1 printers

Carbon's new L1 printers are used to make things like Adidas running shoe midsoles and custom-shaped shock absorbers for Riddell football helmets.

Carbon 3D builds a shock-absorbing lattice inside these Ridell professional football helmets. They're custom-fit to each player and weigh about a half pound less than traditional helmets, the company says.
3 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D Riddell helmet

Carbon builds a shock-absorbing lattice inside these Ridell professional football helmets. They're custom-fit to each player and weigh about a half pound less than traditional helmets, the company says.

The underside of this Riddell helmet shoes the Carbon 3D-made lattice used to absorb shock.
4 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D helmet interior

The underside of this Riddell helmet shoes the Carbon-made lattice used to absorb shock.

This part of a Carbon 3D-printed water pump is more complex than is possible to manufacture with injection molding processes, the company says.
5 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D pump

This part of a Carbon-printed water pump is more complex than is possible to manufacture with injection molding processes, the company says.

A history of Carbon 3D prototypes. At right are "Donnie" and "Leo," models used to persuade investors to fund the startup's second round of funding.
6 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D historical printers

A history of Carbon prototypes. At right are "Donnie" and "Leo," models used to persuade investors to fund the startup's second round of funding.

Carbon 3D prints these springy, lightweight lattices used in Adidas running shoes.
7 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D Adidas midsole

Carbon 3D prints these springy, lightweight lattices used in Adidas running shoes.

This Carbon 3D-built bracket, while unspectacular, is used inside Ford Mustangs. 3D printing enables lighter parts than are possible with metal manufacturing.
8 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D bracket for Ford Mustang

This Carbon-built bracket, while unspectacular, is used inside Ford Mustangs. 3D printing enables lighter parts than are possible with metal manufacturing.

Carbon 3D's L1 printer can create a lightweight, springy midsole for an Adidas running shoe in less than a half hour.
9 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D L1 printers

Carbon's L1 printer can create a lightweight, springy midsole for an Adidas running shoe in less than a half hour.

A big vat of resin for Carbon 3D's printers rests in the company's Redwood City, California, headquarters.
10 of 10 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Carbon 3D resin

A big vat of resin for Carbon's printers rests in the company's Redwood City, California, headquarters.

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