{"id":3252,"date":"2013-08-21T14:07:39","date_gmt":"2013-08-21T13:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/?p=3252"},"modified":"2013-08-21T14:07:39","modified_gmt":"2013-08-21T13:07:39","slug":"laser-cut-3d-sliced-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/2013\/08\/21\/laser-cut-3d-sliced-models\/","title":{"rendered":"Laser Cut 3D Sliced Models"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are some interesting examples of more experimental use of the laser cutter where slices are generated to be re-assembled into 3d models.<\/p>\n

The free Autodesk software 123DMake <\/a>will import a 3d file (.STL) and then generate 2d cut-able parts that are used to construct the model. It can do this in a variety of styles:<\/p>\n

Stacked Slices<\/b><\/p>\n

The model is simply divided into slices that are assembled on top of each other to form the shape.\u00a0 Typically the model is sliced horizontally but the software does give the option to change the slice angle so the shapes run front to back for example.\u00a0 This is the easiest type of model to assemble and gives the most accurate form, it\u2019s likely to create the most amount of cutting though<\/p>\n

\"stackedslice-3ds\"<\/p>\n

This was a quick 3d studio model (render on right) \u2013 a lofted circle shelled with much twist \/ bend \/ taper modifiers applied to it.\u00a0 The laser cut model looks (and feels) a lot better than the stark flat computer render.<\/p>\n

\"stacked-zaha\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A version of Zaha Hadid\u2019s Heydar Aliyev Centre in Azerbaijan<\/a>.\u00a0 The 3d model was downloaded from 3D Warehouse<\/a> and fixed in 3D Studio (3d Warehouse models often need repairing before they are ready for cutting).<\/p>\n

\"stacked-skulls\"<\/p>\n

A skull model that was actually captured using iPad 3d scanner software (another free piece of Autodesk software called 123Capture<\/a>).\u00a0 This takes many photos of the shape and creates a 3d file from that information.\u00a0 The file can then be brought into 123DMake and made into cut layers.<\/p>\n

In this model each layer has been padded with a piece of card \u2013 that card should actually have been thicker as the skull still looks a little squashed.\u00a0 On the right is a photo of the same model (proper dimensions) printed on the z450 3D printer.<\/p>\n

\"stacked-head\"<\/p>\n

This model was printed on 1.5mm grey card and gives a quite smooth version of a head.\u00a0 The model has been smoothed on the right hand side by sanding and Dremeling it down – however the dirty, rough non sanded version is has a nice textured quality that is lost on the clean and smooth version.<\/p>\n

Slotted Slices<\/b><\/p>\n

In addition to the relatively straightforward stacked slices the 123DMake software can also generate model cuts in a more figurative way:<\/p>\n

\"slotted-slices\"<\/p>\n

In this image the model on the left is the original followed by three possible variations of \u201cinterlocked slices\u201d, \u201ccurve\u201d and \u201cradial slices\u201d.\u00a0 The parameters for each can be tweaked to alter the number of slices and spacing \u2013 this could be useful for mimicking floors \/ storeys in a building model.<\/p>\n

Here is a real version of a radial sliced model, using 1mm grey card.<\/p>\n

\"slotted-head\"<\/p>\n

This radial slice version of the “Walkie Talkie” building in Fenchurch Street\u00a0London<\/a> had a shell modifier in 3D Studio applied to so it is just a thin hollow shell. The slice operation then creates a skeletal form rather than solid planes. \u00a0The result is quite striking and only uses a small amount of material.<\/p>\n

\"lasercut-walkietalkie\"<\/p>\n

These types of models do use less material but they are more difficult to assemble \u2013 like a 3d jigsaw.\u00a0 With complex shapes with gaps in the middle slices have to be put together in a particular order – the software in fact has a feature where it will show the order to put them in.<\/p>\n

The slot models are less detailed than the stacks and are not suitable for all situations for example if more detail is needed.\u00a0 They can make for very interesting conceptual models though.<\/p>\n

Folded Panels<\/b><\/p>\n

The software also has the option to create a paper model version that can be folded and glued together.\u00a0 It is an appealing idea for quick, cheap paper models but the reality is that it\u2019s only the simplest of shapes that produce a usable result.\u00a0 Here is what the software makes of head shape and simple house shape<\/p>\n

\"folded-slices\"<\/p>\n

The head would be quite difficult to fold together correctly and probably would not give a great result.<\/p>\n

Materials<\/b><\/p>\n

These models could conceivably be cut on any laser-cut material, e.g plywood, acrylic, cardboard, etc. – the software does allow for the required layer thickness to be altered to match.\u00a0 For the slot models it is a lot easier to work with a material with some flexibility like card rather than a rigid material as the parts do need to slide together and interlock. \u00a0For a more advanced project a mixture of materials could be used, for example wood for the horizontal slabs and clear acrylic for the uprights.<\/p>\n

The interlocking models ought to fit together with no glue needed whereas the stacked models do need to be glued – this can take some time and patience. \u00a0 Complex multi layered models would also mean a lot of cutting so although a cost saving could be made on using cheap materials like cardboard, the actual cutting time can be long, especially when multiple sheets area required to be cut.<\/p>\n

These models are available to look at in the laser cut room off the North Studio.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here are some interesting examples of more experimental use of the laser cutter where slices are generated to be re-assembled into 3d models. The free Autodesk software 123DMake will import a 3d file (.STL) and then generate 2d cut-able parts that are used to construct the model. It can do this in a variety of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[60],"class_list":["post-3252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-laser-cut"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3252\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gre.ac.uk\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}