INTRODUCTION
As every designer knows, there’s magic in transforming a great idea into a tangible and useful object you can hold in your hand. Architects, engineers and construction (AEC) professionals are fast discovering the myriad benefits of 3D printing, including:• unleashing creativity• shortening project timelines• lowering costs• improving communication• securing quick approvals
Firms are discovering a new ability to print physical 3D models in hours instead of the weeks needed for handcrafting, while reducing costs and improving model accuracy. The new capability is enabling more productive design reviews; accelerating design phases; and reducing the time and money necessary to create models for review, presentation and marketing. Plus, more accurate models clarify designs for clients and officials, facilitating the approval process and ultimately resulting in more beautiful, higher-quality building designs.
Just as with building information modeling (BIM) software, 3D printing is becoming a strategic necessity for AEC firms. The question is no longer “should we do it?”, it is “how do we implement 3D printing into our practice today?”
This paper will answer that question by reviewing the wide variety of 3D printing applications in the AEC industry, and then demystify the process of preparing a digital model for 3D printing.
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