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Hello,

We are looking to create a terrain model that is 4’ x 6’ for a state park in Wisconsin.

Does anyone have this capability? What size could you create if you’re not able to build to that size?

We are open minded on material use, as we don’t really have a ton of familiarity to this process.

Any consultation is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Cody Baertschi

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I can print up to about 11" x 11" x 11" at one time. If the map can be broken into tiles within that envelope I could print it.

Do you have a 3D rendering of the map that I can access or do you need that generated from a topo map also?

Thanks,

MR

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Theres a tutorial here on making the files needed from the terrain How to 3D Print a Map of Anywhere in the World | MatterHackers

It would probably be best to make it out of 6"x6" pieces, It would take a while on one printer to make 96 squares.

7 Likes
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Hi Cody,

We have an Objet and the specs are as follows…

Net build size: 294 x 192 x 148.6 mm (11.57 x 7.55 x 5.85 in.) - See more at: http://www.stratasys.com/3d-printers/design-series/objet30#sthash.e9Ufqus9.dpuf

Feel free to contact me anytime with questions and concerns.

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I have a Shopbot that can cut 4’x8’. The model could be milled in high density foam. It would be light weight and pretty strong. the foam could be finished with a skim coat seal and painted. It would definitely be cheaper and faster than printing it.

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Hey @Cody_Baertschi, do you still need help on this one? Looks like you’re in perfectly capable hands here :wink:

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Hello, if you still need assistance on this, please feel free to give me a shout. I am capable of 3D modeling, design and 3D printing your model. You can view my hub here:

https://www.3dhubs.com/madison/hubs/bryan

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Late to the party I know but let me know if you are still looking for info on printing your skate park. I can print about 6inx9in but can and have printed models in pieces to assemble and finish them after. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.

Thanks

Nick

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This type of project calls for someone with architectural or civil engineering experience as both know terrain modeling.

6 months ago means little to those of us who know and understand very long sales cycles so I am commenting perhaps for posterity when others come to learn about printing terrain models. So let me say as a former architect I’ve built several terrain models and the first concern is which scale should represent the model. The scale is often chosen by the size of the surface the model used to present the model but there is a more important consideration I will discuss; artifacts. I have a terrain model mounted to a wall for example. Sometimes creativity trumps constraints.

One constraint is the build bed for 3D printers as most beds may not be likely be large enough to print the parts of a terrain without scaling the model way down which can work one of two ways: for the good and for the not so good. lol

To work around build bed constraints the finished 3D model should be represented in 2D plan view to enable virtual construction line overlays which enable each level of the terrain to be printed at the scale which works best to convey what is intended; the overlay construction lines are the lines which designate where each piece of each level of a terrain are cut for reassembly as “puzzle pieces.”

Because I have a lot of experience modeling we must also consider how to model people, cars and other artifacts which appear in models which are built to scale. If possible then we almost always choose scales established by model rail road builders because the suppliers are where we get our people, cars and trees already modeled to scale. I suggest those scales be used to model the “puzzle piece” overlays of the terrain so realistic artifacts can be placed into the scene.

@tapABILITIES