Considerations for this method
Pros:
- Much less material used than other topography methods
- Quick to laser cut
- Easy to set up laser files
- If model scale, given topographic contour interval, and material thickness correspond, model can be prepared entirely in 2D
Cons:
- Any vertical surface more than a couple layers thick will be empty in the model
- So vertical surfaces (including buildings) must be modeled separately from topography
On this page
Material options
| (image) | METHOD | MATERIAL | COST ($/sf) | TIME: file prep | TIME: fab | TIME: assembly | TIME: total | MATERIAL RECYCLABILITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Horizontal laser-cut topo (offset method) | 4ply museum board | $10 | 18.5 | yes | |||
| Horizontal laser-cut topo (offset method) | 2ply museum board | $5 | 28 | yes | ||||
| Horizontal laser-cut topo (offset method) | crescent board | $10 | 18.5 | yes |
File preparation
- Generate topography lines at a vertical distance that matches the thickness of your modeling material.
- If your base file contains contours at a different resolution, use the RhinoTerrain plugin (available in the Software folder on Goliath) to make a 3D mesh from the given contours.
- Use the Contour command to create appropriately spaced contour lines from the new 3D mesh.
- If your base file contains contours at a different resolution, use the RhinoTerrain plugin (available in the Software folder on Goliath) to make a 3D mesh from the given contours.
- Draw pieces for the sides of the model.
- Split the contours into two rhino layers, A and B (alternating every other level—red and black in the image below).
- Turn on a layer with building footprints. Flatten everything to the z-plane.
- Distribute the building footprints to the appropriate layer(s). Click on the gif below to enlarge.
- First, use the building footprints to trim out any contour lines inside them.
- The part of the building footprint at the lowest part of the terrain goes on the same layer as the next lowest topography line.
- The rest of the building footprint goes on both layers. (The green lines in the image below should be moved to layer A AND copied to layer B.)
- If the building doesn't cross topography lines, put the whole footprint on the layer of the next lowest topography line.
- Make a copy of all the contours next to the originals.
- In the first group, move layer A into your CUT layer and B into your ETCH layer.
- In the second group, move layer A into your ETCH layer and B into your CUT layer.
- Add any etching/hatching for roads, etc. to both groups.
Making the model
- Laser cut the two sets of contours and side pieces.
- To assemble the model, you'll glue up the pieces alternating between one set and the other.
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