1:500 3d-print

1:500 3d-Print

Scale: 1:500
Material: PLA
Machines: Prusa MK3
Software: Fusion360, Prusa Slicer

The Basic Design

One of the principal considerations in 3d-printing architectural models is how to efficiently cut them before slicing. The technique presented here is a simple way to improve speed and success rates while maintaining an acceptable level of detail.

The principal idea is to separate the roof from the main body of the building so that the top acts as a lid. The body can then be hollow, consisting only of a wall, and prints drastically faster than a support-filled part.

Designing models for this sort of printing requires following some guidelines that have to do with the slicer and the diameter of the printer nozzle (typically 0.4mm).

PrusaSlicer gives us the following recommendation under the parameter “vertical shells”:

Recommended object thin wall thickness for layer height 0.20 and 2 lines: 0.86mm, 4 lines: 1.67mm, 6 lines 2.49mm, 8 lines 3.3mm…

The model below was designed following these rules. The outer wall of the building is 1.67mm thick, and the small lip at the top that houses the roof is 0.86mm. All vertical extrusions try to stay within a 0.2mm grid corresponding to the layer height specified for this print. A 0.2mm layer at the bottom of the print for the wall part was introduced to ensure adequate adhesion on the build plate.

The top part was printed conventionally with 20% infill.

The total print time for this model has been reduced by half by applying these simple techniques while drawing the model.

Material

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a thermosoft plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at elevated temperatures. The temperature range for 3d-printing is between 200-230°C with a bed temperature of 60°C to avoid warping.

Results

29/09/202229/09/2022

1:500

1:500

Scale: 1:500
Material: PUR Block (Ureol)
Machines: Printer, Bandsaw, Thicknesser, Disc Sander

The Basic Design

1:500 competition models and especially additions to those models are a fairly common topic in architectural model building. Understanding the fundamental principles of planning for such a model brings you a long way and can help to convey your project in the proper context.

The white model is all about volumetric buildings and proportions. This model typology eliminates all other design aspects to give an “objectified” and comparable overview of a project. It is therefore imperative that details are reduced to only show the base volume of the building you want to build.

The first step in making these models is to analyze your essential volume and subdivide it into different parts. In this step, we typically try to round dimensions up or down to the full – or if not otherwise possible – half a millimeter. This facilitates the actual building process and allows using materials with specific thicknesses. This additional planning goes a long way to making your model-building experience more efficient and pleasant.

Material

Various materials can be used to build 1:500 models, ranging from MDF and basswood to plaster or polystyrene. In our example, we used a type of PUR (Polyurethane) block material sold under many brand names worldwide (Ureol, Prolab, Raku-Tool, Renshape, …). Model builders choose the material because of its workability. It is easy to machine, sand, and glue and can take almost any finish.

Raku-Tool has a density of 0.6g / cm3 and a shore hardness of 50-55. It can be used in the coated form as the final model or as the master for silicone forms. Joining two parts is quickly done with super glue, and gaps or imperfections can be filled with acrylic filler.

Technique

Building the model takes only a few simple steps that are repeated until all parts are finished and ready for assembly. We would like to point out that using the 3d-model to derive the surfaces and printing them as a template for producing parts is an essential technique that speeds up model-building and adds precision to your models. At this point, any preparation you’ve made during the modeling phase pays off its dividends. It typically shows in the details if the assembly logic of the model is simple and well understood. We hid some glue lines in the model by separating parts from the main body and covering the potential problem spots.

1. Create a simple 3d-model and subdivide it into parts
2. Cut your material on the bandsaw roughly into the different thicknesses needed for your project
3. Plane the material to the precise dimensions
4. Mount the templates with spray adhesive to your stock
5. Cut your parts to size, leaving a margin of approximately 1mm
6. Finish your parts on the disc sander
7. Assemble your parts according to your 3d-model
! Sand parts and surfaces that are difficult to reach (inside corners) first!
8. Make sure to sand your whole model with 220 grit to remove all marks from the disc sander
9. Finish your model with primer and top coat

07/09/202231/03/2023

Crafting Wood HS22

07/09/202216/12/2024

03 Raplab Course: Casting Workshop

Raplab: Casting Workshop Introduction

The course “Raplab: Casting Workshop Introduction” introduces the basic usage of the materials and techniques available in the casting workshop and explains the foundations of safe working procedures that we at Raplab follow to conduct our work.

You can enrol in this course only after completing the Raplab safety introduction. This course is the preparation for the in-person introduction. Both must be completed to get access to the casting workshop.

Who is this course for?

This introduction course is for the BA, MA, MAS, and Ph.D. program students and employees of the Department of Architecture ETH Zurich who need access to the casting workshop of the Raplab.

What will I learn?

Students will get an overview of the following topics:

Detailed overview of the Raplab casting workshop (CWS) and its materials and machines.
Introduction to the fundamentals of the materials.
Summary of the casting workshop’s processes and machines involved in creating architectural models.

How do I complete the course?

To complete this course, users must complete the Moodle quiz after studying the learning material.
Reading through the content and completing the quiz will take about one hour.

Learning Material

Rapid Architectural Prototyping Laboratory (Raplab), 21. Mai 2015, D-ARCH, Hönggerberg, HIL B 37

07/09/202210/07/2024

04 Raplab Course: Digital Workshop

Digital Workshop Introduction

Hello! I am so glad you decided to join this course. I’m your course facilitator, Henry.

I will be your guide for this journey. Please contact me at any point if you have questions or concerns by emailing me directly.

We appreciate feedback, so if you notice anything about this course that could help improve your experience, don’t hesitate to mention it.

Introduction

This course introduces the basic concepts of each machine available in the digital workshop and explains the foundations of proper working procedures that Raplab follows to conduct its work.

You can enroll in this course only after completing the safety introduction. The course qualifies you to use the digital workshop independently after showing the completed exercise to me.