Cadalyst - ZCorp - June 2008 - (Page 6) On a mid- to large-scale architectural project, the return on investment could be achieved in a single moment, said Scott Harmon, vice president of business development for Z Corporation. “The machine often pays for itself by revealing an error earlier in the design process, or by enabling a firm to close a deal because the model communicates their design intent more effectively than the competition. Despite the fact that architectural modeling using 3D printers is still relatively new, our most productive customers are architecture firms because they get so much value out of the machine from day one.” Speed and Flexibility Whereas you can wait weeks for a moderately sized handcrafted model, with 3D printing you could have the same model in less than 12 hours. Z Corporation’s inkjet 3D printers do not emit fumes or create large amounts of waste, and recycle unused material for later use. The printers deliver print resolution as high as 600 dpi, yielding all but the smallest details with precision. Z Corp’s product line includes the monochrome ZPrinter 310 Plus, and color 3D printers including the automated ZPrinter 450 and high-definition Spectrum Z510. With other 3D printing machines, you can not “build a large number of models simultanteously because there is no way to print models one on top of another,” said Harmon. With Z Corp machines, the printers can build as many models as can fit inside the build chamber as long as there’s a small layer of powder between each. Recently, The Realization Group benefited from Z Corp printers’ ability to print models in volume. When a retail office and residential complex in Coral Gables, Florida, ordered 100 models of its premises for marketing purposes, The Realization Group was able to complete the order in an astonishing two days. This was thanks to the ability to print models simultaneously without sacrificing accuracy, quality, or structural stability. Apart from the advantages of speed and affordability, a 3D printer can be particularly valuable for young architects. Use of a 3D printer early in the design process enables them to learn quickly through trial and error, sparing them and their clients the costly mistakes that come with inexperience. Thanks to Z Corporation’s 3D printers that create architectural models in less time and at a fraction of the cost of hand modeling, 3D models now are being used to shape design early in and throughout the design process, improving the overall experience and outcome. Just as BIM has the potential to deliver projects cheaper and more efficiently, using 3D printed models throughout design promotes understanding of design intent, enables early error detection and subsequent cost savings, and can help firms win clients and conduct business in ways never before possible. Case Study A Jewel in the Crown: 3 Polishing Presentations with 3D Models For Robin Lockhart, AT, LEED AP, ASAI, associate and senior production manager at design-consulting firm OBM International (www.obmi.com), a design project that normally would involve hours of back-and-forth discussion -- and quite possibly a good deal of trial and error -- has become a catalyst for generating “good group dynamics.” Why, you might ask? It all has to do with the company’s recent integration of 3D printing into their design process. The project revolves around the design and construction of OBM International’s new corporate headquarters in Coral Gables, Florida. Using the 3D printer the company recently purchased from Z Corporation, “I made a model of our proposed four-person workstation with the components loose so they could be assembled in various configurations,” Lockhart said. “The design team made informed design decisions based on actually seeing the various combinations when interchanging the components. This helped remove the usual back-and-forth discussions, which saved us a lot of time and effort and led us to the final solution quickly and with good group dynamics. Not to mention, it was a lot of fun.” OBM International purchased the Z Corp Spectrum Z510 3D printer in December 2007. “Today we use the Z Corp Spectrum Z510 with all the options, including the de-powder station. We have subsequently created an entire model shop to process the models built around our original purchase of the machine.” Lockhart said that 3D printing has dramatically impacted the way OBM International does business. “Our ability to communicate to clients in a way that they can comprehend is paramount. The mood of a meeting drastically changes for the better when we present the model to the clients. They are now on comfortable terms with the topics we are discussing, are very fascinated by the model and are equally impressed with us for presenting it.” http://www.obmi.com
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