American Standard has debuted a series of high-end 3D-printed faucets evoking sculptural artwork. Formed by selective laser sintering, each design presents a creative play on the way water cascades from it. While faucets have long been prototyped using 3D deposition modeling, the plumbing and building product manufacturer claims that this series of luxury faucets is the first ready-for-market faucet wrought using powerful lasers.
In a process lasting 24 hours, a computer-guided laser beam fuses powdered metal into the shape of a faucet under intense heat and pressure conditions. A solid metal block then arises from the powder, and this solid item is then hand-finished and polished to reveal and bevel the design.
The series’ most out-there design is an angular, high-strength alloy faucet made with 19 tiny, concealed waterways that converge at the top to conjure the sensation of a stream flowing over rocks while creating the impression of the water magically appearing.
“The team used Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) technology to adjust each of the 19 waterways to achieve the proper effect,” the brand claimed in a statement. Another design features a mesh of delicate latticework, while a third has waterways separated into thin sections for a more traditional appearance.
American Standard, now celebrating 15 decades in the business, directed a panel of seven hand-selected designers and architects to develop designs reflecting today’s aesthetic and performance standards. If you’re the type who sees a faucet as more than just a plumbing fixture, be prepared to shell out $12,000 to $20,000.
