3D printing meets little worlds

Whether you’re an architect, builder, engineer, or end-client; building models using 3D printing technology is changing the face of the 3D landscape.

Traditionally scale models have been created by hand.  Painstakingly cutting bass wood and a multitude of different materials over hours and hours to create a wonderful masterpiece.  The downside to all this long hard work…. Time…. and you know how it goes “time = money”.

Don’t get me wrong these days are far from gone.  But, at least we’re bringing a scale model a leap closer to your front door.

Yes a 3D printed model will become a standard design “document” that will be required for some projects.

Some of the benefits of a 3D scale model?

1)     You control your perspective- They have these great drawings these days called 3D renderings.  I’m sure many of you have seen them, just do a quick search on Google for “3d model” and there you have it.  They are photorealistic renderings from different angles and many times a rendered sequence.  The problem with renderings are you still rely on the perspective you’re presented with.  With a 3D model…… you move around the model or better yet, pick it up give it a whirl, all the while bug eyed as you may be.

2)     Tactile connection- Think about any product you’ve purchased that possibly had a 3D view of the product.  Some computer companies like Dell or Apple have this.  They’ve realized that the closer a potential client can come to ownership of the product the sooner they have a sell!  Then when you get the product in and see it for the first time it’s never the same as on the screen.  You can actually touch and feel it seeing and feeling every detail that was put into designing it.  A 3D model truly captures its audience and immediately gives you a sense of ownership.

3)     Accuracy- When a traditional model is built by hand, a skilled artisan references blueprints to build the final model.  It’s a little like trying to copy a Van Gogh painting by hand.  The artist’s interpretation is imparted on the model leaving room for error.  3D printed models are constructed with exactness to the file used during design.  Just like printing a document!  Today’s desktop printers have certain limitations and as long as you work within their limits it’s as exact as exact can get.  Today’s 3D printers are no different.

4)     Duplicity- There is no possible way to create exact duplicates; one for the architect, client, engineer, and builder for example; of a 3d model with traditional modeling techniques let alone be cost efficient.  With 3D printing its just a matter of how many times you want to click “3D Print”.

5)     Cost Efficiency-  Right now a 3D printed model usually runs about 30% less than a traditional hand constructed model.  (this includes the conversion from 2D to 3D which I’ll discuss in the next section) Even this is changing rapidly.  As new lower cost materials are being engineered and lower cost 3D printers are coming out every year it won’t be long before we’ll see that closer to ½ the price of a traditional 3D model.

How does all this work?  simple is better
Of course it’s easy, send us your files and we’ll do the rest.  I’d probably consider a few things though which may save you a little money and us a little time.

What kind of file do you have?  2D or 3D?
The sooner we can get a file into 3D the lower the cost!

Most designers today are still designing in 2D.  AutoCAD is a great example of standard 2D software many of you are familiar with.  If you can’t spin you model around and view all the elevations as one complete model then you probably have a 2D file.  We’ll need to convert the 2D elevation views to a complete 3D model.

Now, if you can spin your model around and view it as a complete model……congratulations….. you’ve made the move into the 21^st century!  And, those of you who are still 2D, you’ll get there soon.  You’ll just export your file (usually as a .stl, .3ds, .wrl, or a .dxf) and you’ll be on your way to 3D printing!

2D to 3D Conversion

If we do have a 2D file we’ll need to make it 3D.  Once you send us the .dwg or .dxf working files we’ll convert the files into a 3D format in programs like Google SketchUp or Rhino.  This conversion process does take some time and is currently the largest price driving factor.  However, we have streamlined our workflow in this process and have become very cost efficient which we will pass on to you.

3D design is changing rapidly!  With more users running with programs like Google SketchUp and as more design packages like Revit and ArchiCad harness the power of BIM (Building Information Modeling), the 2D to 3D conversion process is eliminated.  Projects that are designed in these programs are at least ½ the price of a traditional 3D model.  For example a model that is 3D printed to maximize an 8″ x 10″ build area is around $400 and duplicates come in around $300.  At this price who wouldn’t automatically include a model with all those great benefits?

Feel free contact us for a rapid quote or follow us on Twitter for the latest on 3D printing!