3D printing
Considerations for this method
3D printing a site model is cost prohibitive for all but the smallest models.
On this page
Material options
METHOD | MATERIAL | COST ($/sf) | TIME: file prep (hr) | TIME: fab (hr) | TIME: assembly (hr) | TIME: total | MATERIAL RECYCLABILITY | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3D Printing - Polyjet | UV-cured resin | $748 | 11 | 49.5 | 2 | 62.5 | no | |
3D Printing - UPrint | extruded ABS plastic | $868 | 11 | 83.5 | 36 | 130.5 | yes (special service provider) | |
3D Printing - Dremel | extruded PLA plastic | $26 | 11 | 105 | 0.5 | 116.5 | yes (special service provider) |
File preparation
To 3D print the site model, we'll need a closed, watertight, error-free STL mesh.
- RHINO
- Use the Drape command to generate a NURBS surface from the given 3D mesh of the topography.
- Trim the bases of the buildings with the topography, and trim the topography with the building bases.
- Extrude the curves for the roads and split the topography with the extrusions.
- Lower the road surfaces.
- Split the model into sections that will fit in the 3D printer.
- Create surfaces for the bottom of the model base. It's best to have a grid of surfaces rather than 1 large surface per section.
- Create meshes from every NURBS surface according to the guidelines for the 3D printer you plan to use.
- Working one section at a time, use the MeshRepair panel to join the top of the model to the bottom surface and to fill the gaps between the road surface and topography.
- When finished, use MeshRepair to check for naked and nonmanifold edges. Use the MeshRepair tools to delete the problematic mesh faces and rebuild them.
- Export each section to STL individually.
- BACK TO RHINO
- Open the hollowed STL file.
- Trim out the rest of the bottom.
- Create a structural waffle about 3" on center and the same thickness as the model walls.
- Use MeshRepair to check for errors and repair the meshes as necessary.
- Export each section with its structural supports in another new STL file.
- BACK TO DESKARTES
- Open the new STL in Deskartes and verify and repair as necessary.
- Open the new STL in Deskartes and verify and repair as necessary.
- SUBMIT JOB
- Submit each section as a separate 3D print job.
Related articles
Copyright © 2024 The President and Fellows of Harvard College * Accessibility * Support * Request Access * Terms of Use