3D Print - Topographic Maps / Terrains

**maley63** · 05-13-2020, 08:43 AM

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?

**curious aardvark** · 05-14-2020, 03:10 PM

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/

**curious aardvark** · 05-14-2020, 03:12 PM

The hp multijet fusion machine listed on the shpeways website is full colour.

**regfeyddje** · 06-09-2020, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by curious aardvark

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.