Project Spotlight
Topographic Landscape Models
Whether it’s to re-enact the Marshmallow Man scene from “Ghostbusters” or to accurately represent architectural designs for business purposes, many of the machines at NextFab studio can be used to create any (miniature) world from your imagination. Technical Supervisor Lewis Colburn spent his time creating these models using our ShopBot CNC Router. He explains:
The ShopBot can machine 3D topographic relief models from a variety of materials. These models show the level of finish and detail it can achieve in both traditional ’stepped’ topographic models, and fully contoured 3D landscape models. The ShopBot can also cut locations for buildings in a landscape, and NextFab’s Stratasys Dimension and Zcorp Spectrum 3D printers can print 3D models of buildings for a complete architectural site model.
Model 1: This example is a stepped topographic model, 12″ x 6″ x 2.25″ tall, machined from laminated medium-density fiberboard. This model also incorporates two small building models, printed in ABS plastic by NextFab’s Stratasys Dimension 3D printer.
Model 2: Another stepped topographic model, 12″ x 6″ x 3″, machined from high-density urethane foam (HDU).
Model 3: Fully contoured topographic model, 12″ x 6″ x 3″, also cut from high-density urethane foam.
