topic Re: 3d print in Collaboration with other software

3d print

Petros Ioannou — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 18:44:07 GMT

Anyone out there who has experience in producing a physical 3d model using his 3d ArchiCAD model?
How was it transformed to STL files?
What was the behavior of the various elements of AC (walls, windows , doors) in the 3d printing??

Thank you in advance

Re: 3d print

Djordje — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 04:06:04 GMT

Petros wrote:
Anyone out there who has experience in producing a physical 3d model using his 3d ArchiCAD model?
How was it transformed to STL files?
What was the behavior of the various elements of AC (walls, windows , doors) in the 3d printing??

The last I heard about this was from the Slovenian distributor ... some of them are here on the Forum, maybe they would like to share the experience?

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 09:50:08 GMT

We have had good success with Vidar TruPrinter 6000. There are two machines here in Slovenia. This printer is capable of printing in colour, but for that you have to use VRML format. If the colors and textures are not needed you can use STL format also.

It is a straightforward process. Just save as VRML and send it to printers own's software. The main thing you have to be aware is, that it is capable of creating very thin elements, but they rarely survive the job of taking out of the machine. So printed elements should be more than 1mm thick. In reality you should prepare your model in advance and thicken or remove some parts. I will try to get some pictures of finished model that some of our archicad users have.

Re: 3d print

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:43:55 GMT

...huh, still waiting for those images with great excitement. In the meantime I have some questions:
Can you produce transparent surfaces - for the glass?
What if you want a model bigger than the printer can produce? Any experience with post-printing adjustements, like assembling the model out of several parts? Also, what is the nature of the printed material, can you cut into it? And, of course, what are the costs of printing?

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 09:44:35 GMT

Sorry for those pictures. I have to go to a client who for whoom we were creating this models. In the meantime, some of the answers to your questions.

You can not make transparent surfaces. The material itself is a white powder, so if no colors are used, the surface is white. If surface has some color, then during the proces one inkjet cartridge is responsible to color the powder. It works similar to printer. If something sticks out of his "paper space" it wont be modeled. So by carefully placing a model partially outside you can get only a part of it printed. Or you can disect your model in archicad and print it separately (each storey perhaps).

When the printing is finished the model is very easy to break apart, so it has to be sprayed with special solution which hardens the model. You can not cut into it. You can smooth the surface with sandpaper a little bit or you can even color it by hand. The cost should be between 1-2EUR per cubic centimeter of used powder. You can check http://www.vidar.com/3dprint/ (manufacturer), usa based service company http://www.alchemymodels.com , and http://www.ib-procadd.si/tiskalniki/tiskalniki_vidar.htm (Slovenian service company) for some info.

Re: 3d print

Petros Ioannou — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 16:45:38 GMT

I am in the middle of a big project so I did not have the time to thank you for your answers.
When I 'll find the time I will print a test 3d model here in thessaloniki and post some pics along with the feedback of the procedure.

Petros

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:48:07 GMT

Well, I forgot to post those pictures as I promised, so here they are, if someone is still interested. We made two models, one for the outer shell and one for the structure. They fitted perfectly. I have posted also the picture of the real building, which is completed in the mean time.

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:53:01 GMT

The inner structure.

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:54:04 GMT

Combined.

Re: 3d print

Gorazd — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 06:54:52 GMT

And the real thing.

Re: 3d print

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:30:09 GMT

I saw this and thought I would post a mono-chromatic model I had printed about 1 1/2 years ago. Saving in VMRL is easy out of the 3D window but remember to "back up" windows and doors with walls and plan on a minimum finished thickness of 1mm (1/16"). I also "punch" holes in the floors and any other enclosed spaces so the excess powder can be removed. This particular project had to be printed in two pieces because of the size limitations of the printer. The base in this case was hand built.

Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer&quo

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:56:50 GMT

I am in contact with Brian Elder of the 3D Reprographics Company in California (3DRG.com) and are attempting to get an Archicad 10 file into a format that he can use to extrude a plastic 3D model of my designs. This is potentially a solution for many architects and designers that would like to have a durable plastic model that the client can disassemble and inspect. To quote Brian:

"It's a coincidence that you are emailing with questions about ArchiCAD 10. I have a meeting this afternoon with an architect in San Diego that uses the same program. He's new to using any software and he's having trouble exporting the necessary file type we need to print the 3DRG Models (.stl stereolithography). The older versions did have a few issues in creating a useable "stl" file but we either would try to fix the file or re-build it.
I have limited to no experience with this version so if you would like to send us a sample file we would be able to take a look at it and see if we could get something to work.
What we need to print your file is an "STL" file. I'm not sure if there is a direct "export" or "save as" feature in ArchiCAD, if so that's what we need. If that's not available, if you could export it as a single 3D object (i.e. 3D AutoCad file, 3D Studio Max, Rhino, Solidworks, or a file that would be one solid object that contains a volume) we might be able to get it to work. It's worth a shot.

Let me know if you have any questions or run into any problems. Look forward to hearing from you.

Brian

3D Reprographics
3DRG.com
(805)218-9743"

If anyone has suggestions about how this might be accomplished, please contact me or Brian. Check out their website as well. This seems like a great technology that could spread additional ArchiCAD joy throughout the world.

Thanks for reading, Chris Ellis

Re: Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer

Erika Epstein — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 21:17:33 GMT

From your 3D window, do a save as and choose the
3D Sudio File (*.3ds) as your type of file.

Re: Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer

Djordje — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:40:35 GMT

Search for posts by user Gorazd; they did quite a few 3D printer conversions. AFAIR it all started not from 3ds, but from a wrl export.

Found it: http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=9454

Report your results ...

Re: Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 11:35:58 GMT

Djordje,

Here is the results for my search using your suggestions for Printing in 3D:

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=70255&highlight=print#70255

I'll report back with my progress with Brian of 3D Reprographics after trying these file save suggestions and huddling with him. The plastic 3D models would certainly be small enough to ship anywhere and would save the expense of buying an expensive printer. The Vidar printer supports Windows XP Professional, so I may finally have to try the Intel Mac's windows capability if this pans out.

Thanks so much for all your help.

Chris

Re: Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer

Gorazd — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:05:16 GMT

Archicad has only vrml export in 3D window. You need an external program as Max, Cinema, Rhino, ... that can import 3DS file and save to STL. I went through Maxonform, and it was OK. Next week we will make a test of 3D printer Dimension from Stratasys. It makes a model from ABS. No colors though.

Re: 3d print

Gerald Hoffman — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:50:01 GMT

I thought I would post a couple of shots of a model done for a project I am doing in the Cayman Islands. I do not know what they used to cut out the model elements but I provided them with DWG files of Floor Plans and Elevations as well as some sections and some small 3D views of some of the more complicated parts. I think they did a pretty good job. There is lots of detail you won't see on these because of the jpg limit but if anyone wants a larger image just let me know.

Just thought you all would like to see these. It is 1/8" = 1'-0" scale.

Cheers,

Re: 3d print

Gerald Hoffman — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 00:51:03 GMT

Image 2 on the ocean side.

Re: 3d print

Chazz — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:31:44 GMT

For smaller projects:

http://www.desktopfactory.com/our_product/

Re: Exporting to a 3D model building extrusion "printer

Anonymous — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:58:50 GMT

Gorazd wrote:
Archicad has only vrml export in 3D window. You need an external program as Max, Cinema, Rhino, ... that can import 3DS file and save to STL. I went through Maxonform, and it was OK. Next week we will make a test of 3D printer Dimension from Stratasys. It makes a model from ABS. No colors though.

Gorazd,

What were you results and experience with the Dimension ABS printer?
Did you create your own stl file?