3D printing for model makers
3D printing is not competing in any way with traditional model making. Instead it is adding something new and exciting to the range of tools model makers are using. What if you were working on a scale model and needed a complex part and time was valuable? You’d simple have it 3D printed and integrate it with the existing model. Here are 2 examples of how model makers turned to 3D printing (and i.materialise) to make it happen.
Turnova
Turnova is an urban development project going on in the Belgian city of Turnhout. Professional model maker Piet Vanherle was commissioned to create a large scale model for Turnova. One of the eye catchers in the whole project is a ‘stoa’ (colonnade) that connects the northern and southern part of the project. Looking at the size and the complexity of this remarkable piece, the model maker turned to 3D printing. According to Piet Vanherle, finalizing this piece was tough, but the result turned out gorgeous. On demand of his customer, he spray painted the part in gold. Since the polyamide part is a bit flexible, it fitted just perfectly between the other buildings.
Material: Polyamide / Size: 265mm x 610mm x 48mm / Scale: 1:250
Material: Polyamide / Size: 265mm x 610mm x 48mm / Scale: 1:250
Urban development project Turnova
Urban development project Turnova
Urban development project Turnova
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion that was home to Elvis Presley. Situated in Memphis, Tennessee (US), it currently serves as a museum. Graceland is also the second most-visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year; only the White House has more visitors per year.
Since i.materialise community member Joachim visited Graceland, he was very keen on building it as a scale model. Currently, he is trying to make a very high detailed model of Elvis Presley”s home (scale 1/24). Since the building itself is enormous, Joachim already started on the entrance portal. He modeled it from pictures he could find on Google. Most of the parts are milled and only those not good for milling are 3D printed.
Material: High detail resin
Combining milled parts with 3D printed parts
Combining milled parts with 3D printed parts
Combining milled parts with 3D printed parts
Combining milled parts with 3D printed parts
The entrance portal of Graceland
