Elon Musk designs real-world Iron Man gesture interface and 3D modeler

The future of design
September 6, 2013

Elon Musk manipulates 3D object with hand gestures (Credit: SpaceX)

Elon Musk has released a video demonstrating SpaceX’s new custom 3D design interface, inspired by Iron Man.

3D-printed rocket part (credit: SpaceX)

It includes use of Leap Motion control, free-standing glass projections (from Iron Man), 3D projections using glasses, and the Occulus Rift VR headset.

After generating and manipulating the 3D model, Musk then 3D-prints an actual titanium metallic rocket-engine part from the model.

“I believe we are on the verge of a major breakthrough in design manufacturing, in being able to take the concept of something from your mind, translate that into a 3D object, really intuitively on the computer, and than take that virtual 3D object and be able to make it real just by printing it,” says Musk in the impressive video.

“So it is going to revolutionize design manufacturing in the 21st century.”