- 72 large-scale, lightweight dragons restored to The Great
Pagoda at Kew after more than
250-year absence using 3D printing
- Most extensive use of 3D printing on a UNESCO renovation
ROCK HILL, S.C., July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems
(NYSE: DDD) today announced the installation of 72 large-scale 3D
printed dragons at The Great Pagoda at Kew (UK) – the final elements required to
complete the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) restoration of this 250
year old UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Great Pagoda at Kew was
commissioned in 1761 in the midst of the reign of King George III. In the years following the
Pagoda's unveiling, it drew crowds who came to marvel at its exotic
and eye-catching details – including the painted wooden dragons
that adorned the octagonal corners of each successive level. In the
1780s, the dragons were removed to accommodate roof repairs and
were never replaced. Although rumors allege the dragons served as
payment for royal gambling debts, experts believe the wood had
simply rotted over time.
As HRP began the project, it needed a way to replace the large
dragons that once adorned the building but were lost to history.
HRP required a solution that would authentically replicate the
dragons, yet could withstand the famously inclement English
weather. 3D Systems' On Demand Manufacturing team (High
Wycombe, UK) delivered the
lightweight, durable dragons using a scan-to-CAD workflow featuring
Geomagic® software, Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D
printing and high quality finishing. These technologies, combined
with the expertise 3D Systems' team demonstrated through many hours
of front-end engineering and back-end finishing, made this effort
manageable, efficient and cost-effective.
"We turned to 3D Systems to provide the rapid throughput,
accurate details, and excellent finishing that was needed for this
project," said Craig Hatto, project
director, Historic Royal Palaces. "The engineering skill of 3D
Systems' team, the opportunity to light-weight the dragon statues,
and the material longevity of SLS 3D printing were key
considerations for this project."
Bringing the dragons back to life required a unique combination
of research and reverse engineering by the company's On Demand
Manufacturing team to enable rapid digital production of the parts.
The project involved scanning a wood-carved dragon with the
FARO® Design ScanArm into 3D Systems'
Geomagic® Design X reverse engineering software. The use
of CAD enabled, innovative engineering solutions for the dragons,
including hidden features to facilitate mounting them to the pagoda
as well as a much lighter-weight, hollowed statue that is 60%
lighter than wood alternatives. The significant weight reduction
enabled by 3D printing ensures less stress is placed on this
historic building, helping to preserve it for the future. The 3D
Systems' team also used the CAD data to scale the dragons,
producing them in a variety of sizes from 1150mm to 1850mm in
length.
"In 3D printing, we are not limited by the need or time required
to wait for tooling," said Nick
Lewis, general manager, on demand manufacturing, 3D Systems.
"The existence of digital 3D data gives us freedom to produce parts
rapidly, and with custom sizes."
The dragons were printed on 3D Systems' SLS machines in
DuraForm® PA, a durable polyamide 12 nylon material
capable of producing a look and feel comparable to the original
dragons. The resolution and mechanical properties of DuraForm PA
make it an ideal candidate for complex parts with thin walls or
snap fit requirements. In the case of the Kew dragons, these features suited both the
functionality requirement of installation as well as the cosmetic
requirements of the historic restoration. The 3D printed dragons
were finished by 3D Systems' skilled artisans who hand-painted each
piece.
"We so often see 3D printing technology applied to new
innovations that when we get the chance to literally make history,
it is quite exciting," said Phil
Schultz, senior vice president and general manager, plastics
and on demand manufacturing, 3D Systems. "In this collaboration
with Historic Royal Palaces, we were able to bring new technology
to bear on a historical landmark – restoring it to its former
beauty and helping to ensure its future for generations to come.
It's a testament to the capabilities and expertise of our On Demand
Manufacturing team. Our full suite of durable materials, 3D
printing technologies, reverse engineering software and
practical expertise allow us to create a custom solution no matter
how unique the customer's needs."
The Great Pagoda at Kew opens
to the public on July 13, 2018.
Please visit the company's website to learn more about this
historic restoration, or the company's On Demand Manufacturing.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in
this release that are not statements of historical or current facts
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the company to be materially different from
historical results or from any future results or projections
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as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates,"
"intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms
or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are
based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current
expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs
and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its
business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of
which are outside the control of the company. The factors described
under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors"
in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those reflected or predicted in
forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be
relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor
will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times
at which such performance or results will be achieved. The
forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of
the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or
review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its
behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent
events or circumstances or otherwise.
About 3D Systems
3D Systems is the originator of 3D
printing and an innovator of future 3D solutions. It has spent its
30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize
their designs, transform their workflows, bring groundbreaking
products to market and drive new business models. This is achieved
with the Company's best of breed digital manufacturing ecosystem.
It's comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials,
on demand manufacturing services and end-to-end manufacturing
software solutions. Combinations of these products and services
address a variety of advanced applications- ranging from Aerospace,
Automotive, and Consumer Goods to Medical, Dental, and Jewelry. For
example, 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include
simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and
dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical
instruments. More information on the company is available
at www.3dsystems.com.
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SOURCE 3D Systems