NASA 3D Printed Chainmail
M, R, BC, H, N, AO

M, R, BC, H, N, AO

M, R, BC, H, N, AO

M, R, BC, H, N, AO

This is my material study of NASA's experimental 3D printed chainmail. It was a really satisfying material to make. I built both sides of the material using a switch in the material to adjust which side is showing.

You can download the material as an .sbsar and .sbs for free from my Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/3Dprintedchainmail

Reference: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/04/nasa-is-developing-3d-printed-chain-mail-to-protect-ships-and-astronauts/

The material was made in Substance Designer and I've displayed it on a mesh created with nCloth over the Quixel Preview Orb. I simulated the cloth with squares cut at the appropriate places in the mesh to try and accurately create the shape of the material. Images rendered with tessellation and displacement.

Renders and material updated in 2021.