Project Goals:
- Design and manufacture a unique trophy for the winners of the next 10 seasons of the Kooperativa National Basketball League.
- Demonstrate advanced 3D printing technologies and innovations in design and manufacturing.
- Connect experts from various fields to collaborate on one project.
- Celebrate 100 years of basketball in the Czech Republic and honor the memory of Jiří Zídek Sr.
PrusaLab oversaw the entire project of creating the trophy. Architect and designer Petr Vacek was commissioned to design the model specifically for 3D metal printing. This was then carried out by CXI TUL – Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation at the Technical University of Liberec using SLM (Selective Laser Melting) technology.
Petr Vacek – Parametric Design
The trophy design was created by architect Petr Vacek through parametric modeling in Rhino Grasshopper. This allowed for the construction of an attractive and optimized design by adjusting input parameters.
CXI TUL – Metal 3D Printing
The printing of the net and ball frame was handled by the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation using an SLM 280 HL metal 3D printer. The Selective Laser Melting technology fuses layers of metal powder to create a printed part with mechanical properties comparable to machined parts. In this case, the material used was 17-4PH stainless steel powder.
PrusaLab – Assembly
After printing the net and ball parts, we welded them at PrusaLab using the TIG method, ground the welds, and polished the surface. The main structure of the base was primarily CNC machined. Bronze plaques, where the names of the winners will be engraved in the coming years, are mounted on a 3D printed segment made from Prusament PC Blend Carbon Fiber (PCCF). The centerpiece of the trophy is a basketball with a transparent resin casing, containing fragments of nearly 24-carat gold. The casing parts were cast in silicone molds.
FDM Printing in the Prototyping Process
Although the trophy itself is printed using the SLM method from powdered metal, the FDM method, which prints from common thermoplastics, also played an indispensable role in the prototyping process. Models of the parts were needed for both visual and functional verification, and various fixtures for assembly and molds for creating silicone forms for the resin parts were created.
Technical Specifications of the Trophy
Base:
- The top and bottom parts were made by CNC turning and milling from stainless steel.
- Fitted with machined and laser-engraved brass plaques.
- CNC-turned and laser-engraved brass insert with the competition logo.
- The inner part is made using FDM 3D printing from Prusament PC Blend Carbon Fiber (PCCF).
Net:
- Printed in 7 pieces at CXI TUL from 17-4PH stainless steel.
- TIG welding.
- Grinding the welds.
- Polishing.
Ball:
- Printed in 18 pieces at CXI TUL from 17-4PH stainless steel.
- TIG welding.
- Grinding the welds.
- Creating resin parts using 23.75-carat gold and pigments.
- Grinding parts to the desired shape.
Overall height: 63 centimeters
Overall weight: 15 kilograms
Jiří Zídek – A Tribute to a Legend
The trophy, named after the legendary Czech basketball player Jiří Zídek Sr., not only bears his name but also contains a piece of his basketball jersey – the iconic number 10 – symbolizing his significant contribution to Czech basketball history.
For the Next 10 Years
In the next 10 seasons of the National Basketball League, teams will compete for this unique trophy, which represents not only their sporting achievements but also a connection to the history of Czech basketball and its notable figures.
We believe that this trophy will provide inspiration for future generations of basketball hopefuls and enthusiasts of this exciting sport.
