Restoring Museum Relics with 3D Printing

Nestor uses a technology called photogrammetry to first scan relics to create virtualizations and 3D models. These scans can then be rendered into a solid, three-dimensional model and 3D printed. His 3D printing software of choice is Simplify3D, “I started using Simplify3D to slice my models because I was tired of other common slicers. I needed a versatile, fast tool which had the quality and reliability I require for my work with museums. After using it for a few weeks, I would never go back to other slicers. Simplify3D is both easy to use and powerful. It allows me to repair, inspect, and configure every detail of my prints just the way I want.”

Néstor uses a variety of tools in Simplify3D to make his printing process more efficient, but his favorite is “the ability to use several processes and configurations in a single print.” This feature allows him to adjust the layer height throughout his model depending on the resolution required, significantly reducing the print time of large models while improving print quality for highly-detailed sections. Using these tools and strategies, he has replicated everything from small pieces of Roman pottery to full-scale busts and statues. After he has printed the replicas, Néstor then finishes and paints the replicas to make them look exactly like the originals. Recently he scanned a 2,300 year old statue, and 3D printed it in its actual size, over four feet tall! It was printed in twenty-one pieces, glued together over a base structure, and painted to resemble the original statue. He printed this replica for Spanish museum, Vilamuseu, to use while the original stayed at its current home, the National Archaeological Museum of Spain.

Impact of 3D Printing in Museum and Research Industries

Sometimes artifacts need to travel for exhibits and research. Traveling with these delicate, ancient relics often incurs high costs and puts the antiques at considerable risk, requiring complicated logistics and planning. With 3D printing, exact replicas can travel cost efficiently to anywhere in the world without putting the originals at risk. Néstor predicts a “near future where we will be able to literally take the museum wherever we want.”

Because of the durability and low cost of 3D printed replicas, museums can allow their guests to touch the replicas, creating a new way of experiencing ancient artifacts. Néstor sees this as a big win for accessibility in museums. “Accessibility for disabled people is a great advantage of 3D printed replicas. Imagine a blind person in a museum. Everything is behind the glass, and they cannot touch anything, so they can’t enjoy. 3D printing ensures they get a great heritage experience by knowing they are touching an exact replica of the object.”