Physical CNC Foam Model shops

[Geoffc]

I haven't stayed on top of any of the development with having one's 3d computer model physically cut out of foam (or ? material) by outside shops. Does anyone have any US links of providers of this kind of service, or know anything about the process, cost, benefits?

 

Thanks!

[Geoffc]

ok, now i'm feeling like the last guy to get the joke. But I guess I'm simply trying to describe "3d Printing". I'm still not sure how well it works and cost, but will do some more digging...

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

since no one else has chimed in, i will start... i have never had one of my models printed or cut, but we were considering at one time, so i was in contact with the person runnning the shop. they were a 3d printing company, and had a strict set of guidelines on the model. no piece could be smaller than a certain dimension, and the overall model could only be 8"x8"x8" or something like that.

 

the nothing smaller than this dimension wound up being the problem. it was fairly large, like a 1/4" or 1/8" or something. which means that the model can not show a lot of detail.

 

i could go larger than 8"x8"x8", but the model would need to be divided into several sections., and then glued together, or simply placed next to each other.

 

the company i was talking to had a mid level machine, and that was 2 or 3 years ago. there were higher end machines that could print larger, and i am guessing their are even higher end machines now.

 

if i was going to have a model made, i would consider highering someone who could laser cut the pieces out of strathmore or some other type of board,and then assemble them.

 

also.. i know there are some higher end design firms that print their models, and then sand them, or further enhance them with detail. that might have been in the frank gehry movie, ...i am not sure where i saw it.

[Geoffc]

thanks for the info.

 

you know, with those min/max dimensions and the obvious time to format for the printer's spec, I might as well pay an intern to take their time with some fancy posterboard and get the same or better result for less money.

 

OTOH, I can see using this method to build some crazy nurbs shaped model.

[creasia]

Look on the http://www.rhino3d.com website they have links to some CNC sites. I want one. CNC is definately a cheaper technology than 3d printing. I worked on one for a custom jeweller about 10 years ago.

 

Look in the manufacturing and prototyping section of your yellow pages or business directory.

[ronll]

I'm surprised there weren't more responses, especially in the Los Angeles area. You might try http://www.raudascalemodels.com/ in Seattle. They are a large architectural model buildng shop and I know they do CNC foam topogs as well as more traditional hand-built architectural models. Just don't know if they do CNC buildings.