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  1. #1

    3D Print - Topographic Maps / Terrains

    Hi there,
    I am completely new to the world of 3D Printing.

    Currently in lockdown and I've always been fascinated by maps. I am looking to tackle a project.

    I have 3 questions if you can help please..
    Background - Engineer who hasn't used autocad in a long time.

    I would like to 3D print a specific area which would contain road, mountains and rivers. Ideally the size would be around A4 paper size.

    There is a lot of good information online about how to do this. For instance,
    https://blog.prusaprinters.org/how-to-print-maps-terrains-and-landscapes-on-a-3d-printer/

    Explains
    to use one of the below sites then upload this into a 3D design software like Tinkercad. https://touchterrain.geol.iastate.edu/ or http://jthatch.com/Terrain2STL/

    My
    plan would be to spend time on the autocad drawing, then ask a company to print this for me.

    Question 1 - Is this feasible / Challenges?

    What should I be thinking about that may be difficult? Is this a project that I could feasibly create?


    2nd Question - Colour...
    Should I paint this myself or could I get this 3D printed in colour?
    If this isn't possible then I would have to rely on 3 colours for mountains/hills, water and roads... Roads - create a groove in cad drawing then stick a wire (of some sort) into the model. Mountains/Hill - Dip this in paint Water - Somehow paint over the paint to show rivers. Does that sound feasible?

    3rd question
    How much would you think it would cost to get this printed? Is there a specific quality of printer that I should use for something like this?

  2. #2
    Super Moderator curious aardvark's Avatar
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    1) absolutely - pretty straightforward for even a basic FDM 3d printer.

    2) painting it yourself would be the cheaper opyion. But there are a lot of full colour machines around now, including fdm ones. So yep, it can definotely be made full colour.

    3) ideally you'd want it made on a polyjet priunter. Thius is a machine the uses coloured 'binder' in much the same way a normal inkjet printers does. The difference is that it prints on really fine powder that is bound into a solid block.
    These machines cost upwards of $150,000 - and most of the decent sized print bureaus will have them.

    The only way to find out what it will cost is to upload a similiar model - you'll probably need to have the final file in an AMF format.
    Presumably there is a plugin for autocad that should export to amf format.
    I;d be surprised if there wasn't.

    It will also need to be a 'solid' file. Not just 'faces'.

    Best way to get a ball park cost is to upload to shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/

  3. #3
    Super Moderator curious aardvark's Avatar
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    The hp multijet fusion machine listed on the shpeways website is full colour.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by curious aardvark View Post
    1) absolutely - pretty straightforward for even a basic FDM 3d printer.

    2) painting it yourself would be the cheaper opyion. But there are a lot of full colour machines around now, including fdm ones. So yep, it can definotely be made full colour.

    3) ideally you'd want it made on a polyjet priunter. Thius is a machine the uses coloured 'binder' in much the same way a normal inkjet printers does. The difference is that it prints on really fine powder that is bound into a solid block.
    These machines cost upwards of $150,000 - and most of the decent sized print bureaus will have them. mycfavisit

    The only way to find out what it will cost is to upload a similiar model - you'll probably need to have the final file in an AMF format.
    Presumably there is a plugin for autocad that should export to amf format.
    I;d be surprised if there wasn't.

    It will also need to be a 'solid' file. Not just 'faces'.

    Best way to get a ball park cost is to upload to shapeways. https://www.shapeways.com/
    Very important tips you share with us keep sharing more. Thank you.
    Last edited by regfeyddje; 06-10-2020 at 11:37 PM.

  5. #5
    Staff Engineer Davo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by regfeyddje View Post
    Very important tips you share with us keep sharing more. Thank you.
    There's a reason CA is a Super Moderator!

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