I’m always on the lookout for new 3D print applications, and I think I found a new one: custom homes.
No, I’m not talking about 3D printing residential homes (in less than 24hrs). Instead I’m talking about printing custom 3D models of homes and buildings.
Printing miniature buildings has long been something 3D printer operators do. I see multiple famous buildings I’ve printed myself over the years on my shelf. But those were prints made from downloaded models on popular 3D model sites.
What if you wanted a print of a building that has no existing 3D model? You’d have to undertake quite a bit of work:
- 3D scanning the target building / or reviewing architectural documents
- Preparing a detailed 3D model
- Segmenting the model into printable parts
- Printing each segment
- Assembling the parts
- Painting and finishing the entire model
This could be done, but it requires hardware, software, and skills of several types.
It turns out there is a company that actually does all of these steps for you. 3D Printed Concepts provides a service that accepts a request to produce a 3D model of a building at almost any address.
How do they create the 3D model? They explain:
“Upload a photo(s) or property address using the quote request form at the bottom of this page and we will create a detailed quote with options for you to choose from.
We will build using your photos, blueprints, drawings, renderings, virtual models, REVIT files, Sketchup files, or anything else that shows what building will look like from all sides and the top.”
Somehow they are able to take a shoebox full of whatever data is available and transform it into a printable 3D model. They then print the model and finish it appropriately. Completed models are shipped to the requestors when done.
How much does this process cost? It seems that the company has several tiers of pricing for a range of building types:
- CA$1246 (US$893): Custom Extra-Large Ultra-Detailed Model of Your Large Home
- CA$6406 (US$4593): Custom Model of your Hotel Building
- CA$1132 (US$812): Custom Model of Your Small House, Scale Model Home or Office Building
- CA$990 (US$710): Custom Office Building
- CA$1210 (US$877): Custom Ultra-detailed model of multi-family building
- CA$1388 (US$955): Custom Ultra-detailed smaller home model
It seems they will provide a quote based on the complexity and size of the building and resulting 3D model.
They also provide some optional add-ons, such as lighting from inside the print, or extra weighting to keep the model from sliding around.
Who would use this service? Aside from curious homeowners that want a unique souvenir, one can easily image realtors using these for promotional purposes or closing gifts. Businesses can use them as display models of their building, perhaps to aid in their sales processes.
This is a unique application for 3D printing that fills a niche in the industry.
