Supermodel

[Image: Thesis project by Vincenzo Reale, from a course taught by Alessio Erioli at the University of Bologna; photo by Alessio Erioli].

Here are two 3D-printed thesis projects from a course taught by Alessio Erioli at the University of Bologna; above you see work by Vincenzo Reale, below work by Riccardo La Magna. I have to admit to being utterly blown away by the formal possibilities of 3D printers, and these projects only make that obsession more extreme.

[Image: Thesis project by Riccardo La Magna, from a course taught by Alessio Erioli at the University of Bologna; photo by Alessio Erioli].

For one or two more images of these and other thesis projects, check out the Flickr stream of Alessio Erioli, where I originally saw these photos; for more on the future of (an admittedly different kind of) 3D printing, check out the recent, awesome article by Tim Abrahams in Blueprint Magazine: "In a small shed on an industrial park near Pisa is a machine that can print buildings," we read.
    The machine itself looks like a prototype for the automotive industry. Four columns independently support a frame with a single armature on it. Driven by CAD software installed on a dust-covered computer terminal, the armature moves just millimetres above a pile of sand, expressing a magnesium-based solution from hundreds of nozzles on its lower side. It makes four passes... The system deposits the sand and then inorganic binding ink. The exercise is repeated. The millennia-long process of laying down sedimentary rock is accelerated into a day. A building emerges. This machine could be used to construct anything.
Mimicking geology, we might forego architecture altogether and print new tectonic plates. Print earthquakes and mountain chains, archipelagoes at sea.

Comments are moderated.

If it's not spam, it will appear here shortly!


Blogger saint said...

d-shape is one of the best ideas i've heard of this century, glad to see they're still getting press and still truckin on. They may be a little early to the game but they've definitely got the right idea for things.

March 29, 2010 1:36 AM  
Anonymous Tino said...

loved Abraham's article, thanks a lot!

March 30, 2010 12:59 PM  
Anonymous Jake said...

These are beautiful structures and show quite a talent with using a 3D printer for design.

We've seen firms that are 3D printing out cities to scale using data on Google Earth and 3D Warehouse.

Here is Jacksonville, Florida with architectural models 3d printed to scale for those that like technology and architecture.

March 31, 2010 12:23 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thanks for the post!

Alessio Erioli

April 01, 2010 7:56 PM  
Blogger Vink said...

Thanks for the post, I am one of the two students (Vincenzo Reale).

If you are interested I posted further information and pictures about the project and models on my blog and Flickr

regards
Vincenzo Reale

November 16, 2010 1:21 PM  

Post a Comment