Scale

Scale is often the most trouble with large scale models of landscapes or architecture. When models are built to scale in the real world but scaled down to fit inside the build area in a 3D printer there are problems. A common problem with the scale of a building is the support structures and beams that simply become too thin to print when scaled down. Another common problem is railways and stairs that flatten down and shrink to an unprintable size. Also geometries that float in 3D space will not survive the print because that won’t be attached to something firm and solid.

This sample of a room shows very thin features and the stairs are not connected to the wall and floor. Also the bottom floor is a plane and will not print out, thus causing the upper part of the model to be unstable.

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In the 2D view in Zprint we can see that this model is too thin too print and even if we make it the maximum size of the build chamber it will not be able to be post processed.

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Now you can see the room with the walls, posts, stairs and base extruded to a printable size.

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Now when the thickened up model is brought into ZPrint you can clearly see what is going to be printed and the print will survive a post process.

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A way to correct these problems is to upscale your model in certain areas to make sure the 3D print will come out. One thing to remember while 3D printing is that all of the material used in the model is that same plaster based powder cured with a glue type binder. So even though you have a support structure made out of steel in your model the 3D print will only be made out of powder.