It has been just over a year since I joined the 3D services team at ABC Imaging. It has been a great year; ABC Imaging provides collaborative 3D printing methods for AEC and product design models, and because of its innovative and creative team of 3D specialists and customer service managers I see our efforts expanding value to our clients.Going forward this blog will be dedicated to review of ABC Imaging’s projects highlighting ideas and concepts to help reader consider ways to use 3D printing to effectively communicate design intent of their CAD and BIM designs.
Before I continue it is important to mention that ABC’s 3D services division is part of ABC’s global network which provides a full array of AEC digital, print and document management solutions. You can learn more about ABC Imaging on their website at www.abcimaging.com
Today’s ABC Imaging 3D Services blog post is prepared by Jeff Gering in ABC’s Seattle office and one of ABC’s several 3D printing hubs.
BENEFITS OF 3D MODELS FOR
GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Jeff Gering in ABC Imaging- Seattle, WA
I took the opportunity of a visit from Phil Magenheim of ABC3D Printing HQ to set up 3D Modeling Seminars at several of ABC’s General
Contractor clients. We visited the GC’s with the intention of educating them on
ABC’s capabilities and to investigate additional uses for our 3D services.
PCL’s construction, one of the largest construction firms in
the US and Canada, specializes in commercial, institutional, industrial, and
civil construction services. PCL also excels at smaller, unique special projects
including renovations and tenant fit outs.
Upon
meeting with their business development team we discussed several uses of 3D
models including design build, design review, client review, permitting, and
staging and sub-contractor review/familiarization.
Although the obvious advantages of modeling for design and
client approval were a great starting point, the discussion soon turned to more
obscure uses. We began to discuss how the models could be used for scheduling,
staging and safety needs. We found that some of the challenges on larger builds
were crane placement/clearances, material staging areas and ingress/egress routes
for sub-contractors.
By providing visual models, they can be viewed and measured
in real terms, they could minimize delays and provide a clear understanding to sub-contractors
as to how the job-site would be organized and managed. There was lots of
discussion about cost savings from being able to do a virtual walk-through of
the job-site using the 3D model and maximize efficiency of all the team members
on the job-site.
Shortly
after this meeting, PCL placed their first order for the below 3D model of a
parking structure. This proved to be an interesting case study. The project
manager was very pleased with the end product and it proved to him and the team
that the costs associated with the project more than paid for it in savings.
The model was provided to ABC in an AutoCAD DWG format. Larry Gottenberg, ABC’s 3D project coordinator and ABC’s team of 3D specialists worked to convert the drawing to a solid model file (STL) and make it ready for 3D printing. The project was produced in two sections in white ABS plastic using one of ABC’s professional grade Stratasys FDM 3D printers. PCL was pleased and plans to use ABC and 3D printing to expand its communication of projects on future projects.
Hi Jeff,
The 3D model
worked out great. The model we ordered is a portion of a concrete building
structure from a high-rise we’re building in downtown Seattle. The physical
model is used by our foreman, superintendents and field engineers to better understand
what they are building and how they plan to build it. The project team was
initially worried the scale would be too small but once they got their hands on
it, it provided great value.
I definitely
see us wanting to use models like this in the future. Thank you
Matt Glassman, AIA
Virtual Construction Manager
PCL Construction Services
Seattle, WA
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