Here’s a step-by-step guide when you want to create your own 3D Printing House Scale Model.

A 3D printing house scale model provides a lot of advantages in architects and engineers. That’s why many professionals used it in their project presentations.

 

However, you might need to hire a designer in order to achieve a perfect scale model for your project. 

 

Sometimes, these professional CAD designers will charge you more than the 3D printing process itself.

 

Fortunately, everyone can access any CAD software right now to design the models on their own. 

 

Software is also compatible with simple computer operating systems such as MacOS and Windows.

 

Therefore you can easily learn how to do the design of any scale model projects.

 

With this in mind, let’s check out these steps on how to design your own architecture building scale models.

Create a Solid, Watertight, and Manifold Geometry

The most important idea when creating a 3D printing design is to create a solid, water, and manifold geometry. 

 

You need to check if your design is solid by default as software might misinterpret the layer of the model. Causing it to slice the object and create inconsistent layers which is not advisable during the printing process.

 

Meanwhile, having a watertight design means the edge of your model should have precise measurement and should not create any holes. 

 

Finally, when you have a non-manifold geometry, there’s a chance that you can get an error during the printing process. 

 

It is not possible that a model has two identical edges directly on top of one another. So, you need to check all the sides of the design before proceeding to the next step.

Try Hallowing the 3D Scale Model if Necessary

Having the 3D printing house scale model reduces the materials you need during the printing process. It means you don’t need to spend additional money to put weights on your design.

 

This is applicable if the purpose of your design is to show the exterior of the infrastructure. However, it might be a different process if you need to exhibit the interior design as well.

 

There are some architects that prefer to add the interior details during the post process. However, this might cost a lot of time and effort when they’re meticulously putting all the internal features of the scale model.

 

So, depending on the budget and duration of the project, it is important to schedule every detail of your scale model. 

Minimize Overhang in Your 3D Printing Scale House Model

Overhang is the section of the scale model where the next layer has minimum support from other edges. 

 

It means it has a very weak foundation and could collapse when you apply some force to it. So, you might need to add a support structure to ensure its stability during the printing process. 

 

But you also need to minimize these support structures since it is not part of the actual design. 

 

Also you need to remove it after printing and there’s a chance that you damage the model if you have too many support structures.

Keep Your File Size as Small as Possible

Always try to simplify your 3D house scale model to prevent any complications. So, you need to export your file into the lowest possible format that offers maximum quality.

 

You need to check the polygons of your 3D model before exporting it. Remember that the more polygons means a smoother surface for curvature. However, it also produces larger files.

 

Most machines can’t achieve a tolerance higher than 0.01 mm. Moreover, you won’t be able to make any difference between 0.1 and 0.01 tolerance in most cases.

 

With this in mind, we recommended to minimize your file size to 50mb or a design with more or less 1,000,000 polygons.

 

Technologies Used in 3D Architecture Building Models

The three-dimensional technology keeps on improving as the time goes by. Meaning sky’s the limit when it comes to the possibility it can provide to any sector.

 

Here are some of the technologies currently beneficial when producing a 3D architecture building models:

Robotic Arm Extruders

Popularly known as contour crafting. This technology is somewhat similar to how fusion deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers work. There’s a rail to let the robotic arm move within the railing. The nozzle will extrude the filament while creating the scale model layer by later.

Sand 3D Printing

This technique is more similar to industrial 3D printing processes like selective laser sintering (SLS) and Jet Fusion. The machine spreads a layer of sand powder which hardens overtime to the shape of any structure.

Metal Technology

This technology is suitable for any infrastructure that requires it to withstand more weights. A 3D printing company in Europe pioneered this kind of technology when they combined an industrial robot with a welding machine. The robot allows for 3D printing metal structures in 6 axes.

 

Example of a 3D Printer Construction House

If you are an architect planning to have your own 3D printer then you must consider what kind of machine you need. Here are some of the best 3D printers available for your construction house model: 

 

• Creality CR-10S – Controls and buttons are user-friendly. You can use ABS and PLA as filament for this device.
• Flashforge Creator Pro – Great for printing complex models or objects. Especially 3D models with more color requirements. It also has an enclosed feature.
• Dremel DigiLab 3D20 – One of the most compact printers in the list. Small enough to put on a small desk like a normal printer. It works on different OS such as Mac and windows.
• Ultimaker 2+ – This printer is also compatible with ABS, PLA, and even nylon materials. You can change the nozzle of the printer to fit on your design. 
• Ultimaker 2 Extended – An upgraded version of the penultimate printer on this list. You can print larger 3D scale models here. Excellent if you also want to highlight the interior design of your building.
• Snapmaker Original – Perfect for beginners planning to jump into 3D printing. It has a great design for those who value aesthetics and functionality.

3D Building Architecture Service Provider in the Philippines

When looking for a company that can provide you with a 3D Printing Service, make sure that they can do it all for you. 

 

It is more convenient that the service provider can scan, print, and post-process the scale model for you.

 

That’s why 3D2GO is the best end-to-end three-dimensional service provider in the Philippines. 

 

We offer several 3D-related assistance for different industries like the engineering and construction sector.

 

Contact us today to learn more about our 3D services.