Saving mother nature through 3D Restoration Service

A synthetic material that looks identical to elephant ivory and which can be 3D printed at high resolution. The material is dubbed a digital ivory (digory). It has been used to restore historic artwork that included ivory made from animal tusks.

Genuine elephant ivory was often used in important artworks, especially in ancient China. 

Researchers believe that ivory will be invaluable for restoration services. Instead, they believe that digory could help prevent the poaching that threatens the survival of wild elephants in many parts of the world.

 

Evolution of restoration services with Digory

A team led by materials scientist Jürgen Stampfl developed the concept of digory. It consists of a translucent mixture of synthetic acrylic resin and particles of tricalcium phosphate. 

They used it to recreate several tiny ivory ornaments that had been lost from an ornate 17th-century casket in a church at Mauerbach in Austria.

Elephant ivory was once widely used. But international trade of this material was banned in 1989. Restorers are now not permitted to use real elephant ivory. 

Furthermore, it has become extraordinarily expensive. And the only way to have genuine ivory, restorers would have to work on processing it with international laws.

The research team and a 3D printing company spun off from the university. They used Digory to fabricate 18 of the finely-carved and decorative ivory ‘capitals’ missing from the Mauerbach casket.

Other synthetic ivories exist. But according to researchers, digory is the first that can be 3D printed at high resolution with a technique called stereolithography.

 

What is Stereolithography in 3D printing?

Stereolithography belongs to a family of additive manufacturing technologies known as resin 3D printing. 

These machines are all built around the same principle, using a light source with a laser or projector. It then cures liquid resin into hardened plastic. 

The main physical differentiation lies in the arrangement of the core components: 

• Light source
• Build platform
• Resin tank

SLA 3D printers use light-reactive thermoset materials called “resin.” 

SLA parts have the highest resolution and accuracy, the sharpest details, and the smoothest surface finishes of all 3D printing technologies. But the main benefit of SLA printing lies in its versatility.

 

Restoration Services with 3D2GO

Our restoration services range from small projects to big ones. 

Yes, you’ve read right. Even big restorations such as houses or buildings. We do this by 3D virtual imaging. 

So what are you waiting for? 

Get in touch with us! Simply send us your files for restoration in our email address management@my3d.com.ph. You can also reach us through our Facebook and Instagram pages today!