3D Printer Kit Helps Bring Dam Project to Life

By DE Editors

An Italian designer has been able to show people living near the site of a proposed dam in Italy exactly what it would look like thanks to rapid technology.

Marco Giubelli used the RapMan 3.1 self-assembly 3D printer kit from Bits from Bytes to generate a scale model of the 90m dam on Lago delle Mischie in the Piedmont region on behalf of a client. The new dam, used to store water to power a hydro-electric power station, was designed to meet severe water shortages experienced in the Biella province during the summer months.

“Creating an exact replica of what the dam would look like really helped bring the project to life,” said Marco from Italian firm Sigma Design. “When you’re building a new dam that will have a big environmental impact, traditional tools are not enough. The public won’t necessarily understand technical drawings, which is where a 3D model comes into its own. It makes it real for them."

Aerial photographs of the area, a DWG file with the level curves and a DWG file with the planar sections of the dam were used to help create the 3D model. Models, terrain and dam, were all geo-referenced for precise positioning.

Marco says the RapMan 3.1 printer has now become a standard work tool with 3D rendering making up 80% of his business.

For more information, visit Bits from Bytes.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.