Enhancing 3D-Printed Bra Cup Design Through Lattice Structure Optimisation

Abstract

With the development of 3D printing technology, its application in the apparel industry, especially in bra cup design, has drawn attention. Previous studies have explored the use of 3D printing for underwear customisation. Yet, issues such as poor flexibility, heavy weight, excessive material consumption, and low comfort of printed materials remain, limiting the wide application of 3D-printed bra cups. There is a research gap in effectively optimising the structural design of 3D-printed bra cups to overcome these drawbacks. This paper aims to address this gap by investigating the use of lattice structures in designing 3D-printed bra cups and analysing how rod diameter and material hardness affect the elastic modulus of the lattice-based cup designs. Through a series of experiments, it is found that both parameters significantly influence the modulus, with material hardness being more crucial. By using the RESIONE F80 material with a 1 mm rod diameter for lattice infill, the volume of the 3D printed cup is reduced by 45.16%, porosity is enhanced, and ventilation and comfort are greatly improved.