Andrew Chary knew a 3D printer was in his future the minute he saw the intricately detailed models at an ArchiCAD seminar in 2007. The principal of Andrew Chary Architect, a high-end custom residential home designer in upstate New York, recalled how the 3D-printed models conveyed every aspect of the home design, down to the brick and roofing materials.
The firm uses the Z450 to create partial and full models of all types, including homes, outbuildings, and site master plans with land contours. Architects take 3D models of project variations to meetings with clients and public officials. “You always have a holistic view of the plan, Chary said.
A Machine to Call Your Own
3D printing service bureaus are sprouting up around the country as the technology grows in popularity — many offering 24-hour turnaround. For Chary, however, using a service bureau wasn’t an option.
Having a 3D printer in-house offers fast results for the firm and instant gratification for clients, Chary said. Plans are constantly evolving architects are continuously enhancing and updating designs, and the in-house machine can produce an updated model in mere hours. “I’m thrilled to have the ability to turn out models rapidly,” Chary said.
Once a client sees a model, “we usually get client feedback in a day or so,” he said, and recalled a time last year when the firm presented a model to a Lake Placid municipal review board and received rapid approval of a project proposal. Overall, Chary believes the 3D printer pays for itself in the credibility it brings the firm, the increased sales, and more.
The only time-consuming part of the process is preparing CAD files for the 3D printer, Chary reports. Perfecting textures and complex products such as windows, beams, planks, and shingles requires some time and effort.
Tangible Satisfaction
The advent of 3D visualization software was a giant step for architectural firms: “That was awesome,” Chary said. But they soon realized that many clients don’t fully understand what they are seeing in an on-screen walkthrough. For example, Chary explained, “The software doesn’t convey perspective, such as the relative size and locations of rooms. The walkthroughs don’t excite clients. Models do.
The fact that the Z450 can add annotations to a model such as text, arrows, and texture maps has led to another perk that delights Chary clients: seeing their name emblazoned on a model of their home to be.
Chary knows that in the world of 3D printing, he’s a leader among AEC firms. “We went to a Z Corp. user group meeting and found out we were one of only a few architecture firms using a 3D printer throughout the entire design process,” he recalled — for uses including master planning and site adjacency to opening model of a house including windows, furniture, etc. Architects even use the models in-house for roof checking.
Via: cadalyst.com