ian's blog

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I have always found that interactive 3D digital data yields a greater wealth of information than static 2D images. For instance a digital 3D model allows the user to orbit, pan, and zoom around the model. Where as a single 2D elevation is very specific to one portion of the project. In the AEC we use these drawing qualities for different but equally important uses. The full 3D digital model can show the overall design intent of a project. Where as a detialed section can show how a staircase interacts with its supports.

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The original data for this project was submitted by Gary Hartman at Sunlit Architecture. The data was good, but had many of the typical problems that i see when trying to convert architecture CAD into 3D printable CAD.

Typical issues:

The major hurdles of trying to convert architectural CAD into 3D printable CAD are detail tolerances and the generation of a water tight model before export. With this particular project the detail tolerances were mainly too small on the handrails (balcony and stairs). This is usually an intuitive fix because the elements are in plain view and easily fattened so as not to break during fabrication in the 3D printer.

For this particular project I took a building that was originally drawn in ACAD 2007 and then heavily edited in Form Z. I need to update an old version of a building to its new drawing set. The changes included adding and removing floors, a new roof, and some other detail augmentation.

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