【3D Printing Architecture】Fully Curved Architecture: Absolute World Towers!
The famous Canadian landmark, "Absolute World Towers," is renowned globally for its progressively curved exterior, and its beautiful curves have earned it the nickname "Marilyn Monroe Towers." This time, 3dmart is taking on the challenge of 3D printing this unique architectural model. The "Monroe Towers" feature an intricate interweaving of architectural structure and glass windows, reflecting beautiful visual effects in the sunlight. How will such a tall object with intricate convex and concave structures fare when 3D printed?
(Original appearance of Canada's "Monroe Towers," image from the internet.)
Only the Ultimaker S5 can handle such a tall print. We chose to 3D print it with two colors and no supports, using the finest layer height of 0.15mm. The slicing software Cura 3.6 automatically calculates the estimated print time. After pressing start, the Ultimaker S5 works for two and a half days, and then the print is ready.
(This model file is from Kae. You can find more information about him on this website.)
This time, we happened to run out of material in the middle of the print. The Ultimaker S5 has an automatic filament detection system, which conveniently waits for new filament to be loaded before resuming printing, so there's no fear of print failure due to running out of material.
Voila! It's as magical as a magic trick – put it in, print it out, and the finished print is super easy. Even before disassembly, you can see the progressive light and shadow of the architectural model itself. The windows are made with white PLA, and the structural parts are distinguished with silver PLA.
From different angles, you can see different light and shadow effects, fully showcasing the unique features of the structure itself. 3D printing is also increasingly being used in the architectural industry for preliminary visual models (further reading: How Architects Go From Concept to Award-Winning Building with 3D Printers). In the past, these were usually made from wood, foam boards like EK board, which was time-consuming and difficult to modify.
Using 3D printing not only speeds up completion but also simplifies the modification process. Additionally, it saves valuable production time, allowing the energy previously spent on late-night model making to be used for design conceptualization, leading to better results.
The Ultimaker S5 has a dual extrusion system, so it can be used with water-soluble PVA support material. However, this time we didn't need support structures and opted for dual-color printing. In this 3D printing mode, we also took a close-up of the internal details. You can see that in the unsupported silver exterior structure, there's a layer that gradually builds outwards with a slope. If designers consider these structures during the initial 3D modeling phase, the finished product can be smooth and beautiful, which is a very important aspect of 3D printing.
We're excited to share this distinctive "Absolute World Towers" architectural model with you. The file was provided by Kae, and you can find more information about him here. If you also have your own unique creations, why not try 3D printing them immediately, or we also offer 3D printing services using original manufacturer machines! We will continue to share new information and practical tests related to 3D printing with you, and all the latest news will be announced on our Facebook page!
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