3D PDF

In the past, various 3D formats (such VRML, 3DS, 3DMF, and o2c) have been touted as "the 3D PDF" (portable document format). But their opportunity to become the de facto standard may have passed. In January 2006, Adobe unveiled its own 3D format software, called Adobe Acrobat 3D, which actually uses the latest PDF file format. As with those other formats, a free viewer is available.

MODEL MILLING

Rapid prototyping technologies such as 3D printers and stereolithography have achieved some popularity in producing architectural models. But these methods are limited in the size of the models they can produce, and they require expensive materials. So at School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo, we have been working with computer numerical control (CNC) milling to produce architectural models. We have demonstrated the utility of CNC machining by producing a 1:33 scale model of a curvilinear, precast-concrete structure for the Ballingdon Bridge in Suffolk County, England.

MIAMI METALS

Futurist Alvin Toffler said: "You've got to think about big things while you're doing small things, so that all the small things go in the right direction." He was probably not referring specifically to architecture students, but his statement applies well to students thinking about design concepts when learning to use computer-aided design applications.

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