He Makes Stuff You Want

Professor of mechatronics at Massey University in Auckland Olaf Diegel’s bespoke nylon-bodied guitars are attracting interest from all over the world. An exponent of 3D printing, Diegel’s zany guitar bodies are created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, output in one piece on an EOS 3D printer. This is the new world of additive manufacturing. “You could throw one against the wall without worrying about it breaking,” said Diegel, who will begin selling the guitars online at the end of June. “The old style of [subtractive] manufacturing is you start with a block and cut away the material you don’t need. With this you start with nothing and add material one layer at a time until the object is finished.” Diegel expects to have a guitar on the 3D Systems stand at the 3D Printshow in London in October, which has the tagline “The world is about to change again”.