Challenge
3D print a highly detailed replica of a ship
Solution
Create a watertight 3D model
Software used
Materialise Magics
Insight/how
From 52 shells to one solid file
Industry
Consumer goods
Let’s Make This Ship Watertight
To render the surface design file of the galleon, created by Grid VFX, printable with Stereolithography, the Materialise team needed to undertake several actions. The design file contained many small gaps and details, but thanks to Materialise Magics software, Materialise and & designshop transformed it into a solid 3D print prepared model.
The galleon was split up in different parts, such as crow’s nests, lanterns, cannons and deck grids. To make the painting and assembling easier afterwards, the Materialise team had to separate some additional parts. Certain parts were too thin and were at risk of breaking off during the printing. That’s why sails, flags, ropes, rails, anchors, canons and other details needed to have sufficient wall thickness. Then the Materialise team cleaned up the inside and outside of the hull and added a fortifying tetrashell structure on the inside of the hull. They also added mounting holes to the hull to support the galleon on its pedestal. With a design file that originally contained 52 separate shells, the galleon was finally ready for 3D Printing!
From 18 Months to 7
Conventionally, galleon replicas are hand-made and you need around 18 months to craft a finished model. In this case, & designshop only had seven months to deliver the replica of the Zeven Provinciën galleon to their customer. That’s why they turned to 3D Printing.
After around 40 hours of engineering needed to prepare this highly detailed model for 3D Printing, and 11 days of building and post-processing, the final parts were sent to & designshops' commissioned model maker Wasili Angelopoulos, who had the noble task of assembling and painting the ship.
The result is a stunning Zeven Provinciën galleon that takes us back to the Golden Age of shipbuilding.
Do you think 3D printing software could improve your business, but you don’t know what option fits your business best? Our company is built on a great passion for 3D printing software. Let’s have a talk and see how we can render your business more efficient.
Credits:
DESIGN & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
& designshop - Elwin & Nynke van der Hoek - NL
MODELMAKER & PAINTING
Wasili Angelopoulos - NL
3D SURFACE SHIP DESIGN & MODELLING
Grid VFX - BE
3D DESIGN DETAILING
& designshop - Elwin & Nynke van der Hoek - NL
PRE-ENGINEERING 3D PRINT FILES
notwar - Tom van 't Hof - NL
& designshop - Elwin & Nynke van der Hoek - NL
ENGINEERING 3D PRINT FILES & FINAL 3D PRINT PARTS
Materialise
PHOTOGRAPHY
Femke Poort - NL
HISTORIC & MARITIME ADVICE
Maritiem Museum Rotterdam - Marco Groen – NL
Batavia Werf Lelystad - NL