In the past decade, the relationship between technology and craftsmanship has reversed significantly. Usually 3D printing is used to make small objects, figurines and prototypes, and now it is used to build affordable housing in the construction industry. Artists and craftsmen across creative fields are embracing digital tools as a new medium of human expression.
EDG is an architecture and engineering company in New York. It proposes a cost-effective way to make modern decoration, a new form of digital sculpture, whose key lies in 3D printing.
Almost anything can be easily recreated through modern 3D scanning and rendering software (such as 3DSMax and Rhino) and algorithm modeling programs. EDG then selects the appropriate materials and 3D printing technology to make plastic molds, which will be used to make copies of architectural decorations. The team began to use the small MakerBotReplicatorZ18 for prototyping.
"We focus on economical hollow plastic molds. Through exhaustive experiments, we found a perfect balance of material cost, efficiency, and strength to ensure that the molds can be easily copied." The company said.
The 3D printed plastic mold is inlaid with laser-cut wire mesh for reinforcement. The final prototype was made by VoxelJet using a VoxelJetVX10003D printer, used for casting molds, and manufactured indoors with concrete.
Through their construction methods, the decoration can be designed and incorporated into the facade without exceeding the budget. John Meyer, founding and managing partner of EDG, said: "The project started with the simple goal of finding ways to save and restore the deteriorating architectural gems of New York City and around the world." The natural beauty and rich history of these gems are disappearing because Their repair costs have gradually become too high, recognizing these losses-like the Penn Station, these losses will not be fully realized until after the facts occur, we set out to create economical reconstruction and repair methods, and achieved this, we also I soon realized that the convenience and accessibility of this construction method brought the potential for a truly shocking transformation to the creation of the building facade. We drew inspiration from the classic style, and the details became modern and fresh.
