Z Corporation & 3D Printing w/ArchiCAD

[Anonymous]

Hi all.
I have mentioned our 3D printer on this forum before when we were still considering whether or not to get one, and then again once we HAD purchased it.

I went to a ZCorp User Group meeting a couple of weeks ago with Andrew in Rhode Island.

We did a presentaion and met alot of people and learned about alot of new techonology.

We met architects that use the printer, a representative/designer from NASA was there, there were people there that use this machine in hospitals, engineering etc etc.

When we talked about this before it seems that most of you that responded recomended that we just outsource to companies that allready own these printers.

We have to say that owning our own 3D printer has been great.
It is very fast and efficient, took us about two months to figure out the issues with scaling a building down and printing it in 3D. Thickening windows and walls, how much to thicken them, how much detail to put in these models, etc.

I would like you t o all look into these printers again.
They work so well with Archicad.
The way we draw, build and design with BIM with in ArchiCAD allready is exactly the information the printer needs to print these models.
With other 3 Dimensional programs I learned you run into problems printing that you dont with Archiad. Other programs you are building 3D information with surfaces & planes. ArchiCAD has all of this information figured out allready when you plae a slab, roof , wall or beam in your model. Software that models with surfaces ends up with holes, and funny polygons all over it that you have to fix before you can print your models.

ArchiCAD & the printers from ZCorp go hand in hand as far as I am concerned and Graphisoft should be in contact and working more with them.

We are doing a Webcast with Z Corp that I would like to invite you all to attened on December 08, 2008.
You can register here:
https://www.zcorp.com/Z-Corp/AEC-Webinar/spage.aspx

If you are interested in Zcorporation and what they have to offer here is a linkto their website:
http://zcorp.com/

More: while we were there I did a user testimonial for them, you can find it here:
http://zcorp.com/Z-Corp/Customer-Case-Studies/spage.aspx
(the one called "Andrew Chary Architect PLLC")

I recomend you all check this out, if I love this thing and we find it SO helpful I know you will too.

This isn't meant to be a sales pitch, it is meant more just to share with you guys something that I thin is great


Edit: Oh, yeah, and Graphisoft you're mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Jessica,

Thanks for all of this info. I have also seen the webcast you referenced and have read a few additional articles on the topic of 3d printing that mentioned some of the projects your firm has done. I am really interested in this technology and would like to add it to incorporate it into what I offer to my clients. I have heard mention of having to thicken walls, doors, and windows to get the 3d print to be stable enough. I was wondering where or how I might get my hands on all of the info I would need to begin incorporating this technology into my practice without having to reinvent the wheel so to speak. I would great appreciate any and all information, tips, and tricks you could provide me with.

[jbArch]

Were there some more links/photos in this thread that got moved or deleted? I came back looking for some of the model images I had seen on this thread a few weeks ago, but now they are gone.

Cheers,
JB

*Edit: Ah, nevermind... there was another thread found here.