„Would you like to take a ride in the minibus?“ asks Libor Horáček, opening the door to a renovated Volkswagen Transporter that he modified himself, including 3D-printed push-lock locks. He enthusiastically explains the principle of their printing, preparing me for an interview that will reveal the unlimited possibilities of 3D printing at CXI TUL.
From glassworks to beer
Although the interview is about 3D printing, Libor’s life is deeply intertwined with glass. „I studied at the Faculty of Glass Machinery at TUL. I graduated in 1988,“ he recalls. After his studies, he went to Preciosa Lustry in Kamenický Šenov and from there to the newly privatized Novosad & syn glassworks in Harrachov, where he worked as a technician. And it is here that beer enters his story after glass. „I participated in the founding of a brewery in Novosad at the glassworks in Harrachov, and I was also a brewer,“ he states calmly, as if it were a natural step in his career. And in fact, it is true, because beer belongs to the glassworks.
After a while, he returned to Liberec and joined Modelárna Liaz, where his journey into 3D printing began.
From historical glass to modern art
Libor started out as a designer and restorer of chandeliers. His work took him to Prague palaces, the presidential palace in Bratislava, and a convent in China. „Glass fascinates me because it doesn’t age. Even after a hundred years, it is still beautiful and easy to restore. I like history, I don’t like modern things. I don’t even wear digital watches,“ he laughs.
At the Modelárna Liaz, he combined his historical sensitivity with modern technologies. He collaborated with artists such as Federico Díaz, whose works have been exhibited at several world expos.
3D printing in practice
Libor’s work for the Modelárna Liaz brought him into the field of aviation, where he began to encounter 3D printing more intensively. „About 15 years ago, we started working with Jiří Šafka. He was developing 3D technologies at TUL, and I was doing the same at the model workshop. We tried to bring 3D printing into industry so that it wouldn’t just remain in the laboratory.„
However, the collaboration expanded. „The development of unmanned helicopters began, which I was in charge of, and this led to 3D printing being used more widely.“ In the meantime, a laboratory with 30 devices was established at TUL, and the technology began to be used wherever possible. And it all started with a single printer. After years of collaboration, Libor eventually moved to the 3D Technology Department, CXI TUL.
3D printing: aviation, industry, and healthcare
And what is Libor’s favorite field of 3D printing? Aviation and healthcare. For example, he works on parts for unmanned drone aircraft engines. The goal is to reduce costs and simplify production. In addition, he collaborates with a large aircraft manufacturer, for whom they print prototypes and parts that are difficult to manufacture. This results in parts that can then be mass-produced using traditional methods such as casting, injection molding, or mechanical processing.
In healthcare, Libor is involved in the development of customized prostheses (more here). His inspiration comes from prostheses for athletes who have lost limbs. „Children and adults can have individually designed prostheses, for example with Minecraft or Spider-Man motifs or with added lights between the fingers to make wearing them fun.“ Thanks to 3D printing, the prosthesis can be continuously adapted to a person’s growth. The remaining part of the limb is scanned, a prototype bed is printed, and the prosthesis itself is attached. „The body is individual, and 3D printing allows for precise customization, even of joints. A few standard joint sizes can be replaced with individual copies.„
At CXI TUL, we are pushing the boundaries of 3D printing. We can handle what others cannot – technically demanding parts, functional prototypes and specific, tailor-made products. The ongoing project of the NCK consortium for industrial 3D printing plays a crucial role, as it stands right at the interface of research and real production. The technologies that are created here are therefore directly aimed at practice and meet the current needs of the industry. The high level of Czech 3D printing was also confirmed by President Petr Pavel: „Many materials used in the aerospace industry and processed by 3D printing are world-class. The level at which the Czech Republic is, for example through CXI TUL in Liberec, is truly comparable to the world’s best,“ he said during a visit to the laboratory.
How printing works
Libor explains that 3D printing is not just about filaments, about printers that work with wound string. There are many technologies: HP printing of polyamide powder, laser-sintered metal powder, resin printing using UV radiation, or printing from filaments containing wood. Each material has its advantages and limitations: powder does not need support and is waste-free, metal printing allows for solid parts, resin prints soft or transparent objects, wood smells and can be sanded like the real thing. „In any case, I support people printing at home as amateurs. They get to touch the material and find out what can and cannot be printed. Of course, these cheap printers are not precise, but they are excellent for demonstration purposes.„
Freedom of creation
And what does Libor enjoy most about 3D printing? „The limitlessness of 3D printing fascinates me. I can create anything, get involved in projects that no one else wants to tackle, and have free rein,“ says Libor. The same fascination with materials that he had with glass ultimately led him to 3D printing.
According to Libor, technology doesn’t have to be complex to be groundbreaking: „The simplest thing can be the most interesting. For example, a ball for a float—no one had been able to make it for six years, and we did it. It’s a small thing, but with the right precision, weight, and material. And that’s what matters.„
