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