Belgian design studio Next Issue has printed an entire city in 3D using the Roland ARM-10 3D printer. The skyscrapers and modern architecture remind one of New York. The buildings have a maximum height of 6 cm and are extremely realistic representations of modern-day buildings. "It's fantastic to see how even the smallest design details are printed with such precision. It also offers a lot of satisfaction to be able to see one's creative fantasies become reality," says Maarten Bloemen, 3D designer.
Next Issue design studio used the new 3D printer from Roland DG for a project that required buildings to be realised in three dimensions. "As a 3D designer, I am constantly working on 3D visualisations. Often, this involves building projects, but it can also involve creative and artistic projects. 3D printing is a very interesting technique for making 3D graphics tangible", says Maarten.
"Even though I did not have a lot of experience with 3D printing, it was very easy to get started with Roland's 3D printer. I just followed the online instructions for setting up the device, which went surprisingly quickly. Then, after testing a few files, I was soon up and running and able to start realising the city. If your 3D file is formatted properly, there is not much that can go wrong. Aside from that, the monoFab software indicates errors in your design, so that you can correct any defects before you start printing. Another advantage of the software is its clear navigation, as well as the function that indicates the required amount of resin and the estimated printing time. You know immediately what you're up against."
According to Next Issue, in addition to ease of use, the printer's accuracy is also a great asset. Maarten: "The minimum layer height is 0.05mm. This means even the smallest detail is displayed clearly. Since the device works with such precision, it does take a little longer to print a model, but for prototypes or unique pieces, this is no problem."
First 3D printer by Roland DG
Although Roland DG has been active on the 3D modelling market for over 25 years, the company did not launch its first 3D printer until 2014. Gert Cuypers, 3D Business Consultant at Roland DG, explains: "Over the years, we have gained a huge amount of experience in the development of model learning devices, and for years, our main focus was on milling machines. Behind the scenes, however, we were already working on a 3D printer. So, finally, we launched our first 3D printer in September. Although it uses different techniques, the applications are similar. Both techniques are used to create prototypes and models based on a digital file."
Roland DG is presenting its 3D printer in combination with a new desktop milling machine. "Under the name of monoFab, we offer both additive and subtractive techniques. Together with our customers, we will find the best solution for their specific applications. For some applications, they will even need the combination of both machines," says Gert Cuypers.
