【3D Printing Application】London Design Biennale, 8-meter Large Architectural Relief!
An 8-meter large 3D printed relief! The University of Tokyo's Department of Architecture showcased innovative designs at the 2021 London Design Biennale. The architectural education laboratory, "T-BOX," is equipped with six Ultimaker 3D printers. Combining 3D scanning with 3D printing, see the production process here:
The University of Tokyo's Faculty of Engineering and Sekisui House, Ltd. collaborated to launch the international architectural education laboratory "T-BOX," led by Director Toshiki Hirano. Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of architectural talent, T-BOX chose to use Ultimaker 3D printers to meet the research requirements of the architecture department. These printers are used for rapid prototyping of students' 3D model data and for design practice.
In the past, with traditional manufacturing methods, the Department of Architecture did not have production facilities equipped with technological manufacturing tools. Students could only choose to buy 3D printers themselves or rely mainly on manual production. Now, with T-BOX and six Ultimaker 3D printers in the workspace, teachers and students can easily design and produce their prototype samples. All ideas can be quickly transformed and modified into actual products, without being limited by the complexity of shapes, and used for presentations.
For the 2021 London Design Biennale, Toshiki Hirano collaborated with students to design Japanese architecture. The work showcased various objects from the cities of Tokyo and London. Elements ranging from Tokyo's Maneki-neko (beckoning cat), Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), cicadas, and Taiyaki to London's underground, post boxes, and pubs were 3D scanned into 3D data. These were then produced using Ultimaker 3D printers with Ultimaker white PLA filament.
"In the past, I thought that 3D scanning complex-shaped models would usually be difficult to 3D print successfully. Since using Ultimaker 3D printers, even the most complex details can produce exquisite results," said Toshiki Hirano. He divided the work into 6 parts for printing and then assembled them.
(Using Ultimaker 3D printers to create a 1/10 scale model of the London Design Biennale work)
Mr. Hirano stated that the original scanned data of the finished product was as high as 1TB. Even when scaled down, one panel still occupied at least 300 MB, making the file size very large. However, when slicing the file in Ultimaker Cura software, the software still ran smoothly. Ultimaker, from machines to software, is very suitable for producing projects with large quantities and complex details!
After deciding to install Ultimaker in T-BOX and using it, we found that Ultimaker 3D printers are compatible with various 3D printing filaments, and perform excellently in printing accuracy and speed. Even with minimal experience and knowledge, users can intuitively follow the instructions in the equipment and software to design works according to their needs.
Mr. Hirano stated, "We never thought that 'architectural research' would require using '3D printers,' but as we integrated this technology, we found that it not only greatly aids R&D and production but also holds an increasing proportion in the global architectural field. Now, 3D printing has become a key helper in the design cycle for architects and students."
Since the advent of 3D printing, it has reshaped many industries, from manufacturing, construction, automotive to aerospace. From rapid prototyping in the past to stable additive manufacturing today, the technology has become increasingly mature. 3D printing technology has also widely spread to universities worldwide, providing students and faculty with faster and more convenient production processes. 3D printing has innovated the architectural field and created new standards for future living.
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