9. Conference DAY 2 - 3D printing, AutoCAD Release 13, Navisworks, BIM in modular prefab

8:00 to 9:30am - "Cost effective desktop prototyping in building design" by Chris Job and Suleiman Alhadidi

Our round table discussion was set for 8am on Wednesday morning.

Suleiman and I quickly setup 2 different 3D printers - one printing and the other for demo.

We also laid out some sames for the delegates to have a sticky nose - we had printed keys tags with RMIT embossing.

We also placed business cards at each spot (a bit of marketing never goes astray).

Final touches were made the night before for our animated power point, along with a video that Kevin Francke kindly setup for us just the day before.

The delivery was made by both Suleiman and I with all invited to add comment throughout the session.

The participants at this session included members from the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia - 26 in total.

This group consisted of 13 architects, 3 professors, 5 managers, 4 IT managers/staff and 1 draftsman.

Power point display

Au 2012 presentation_3_d printing from hkstudio

Here's a few prints that were created using other 3D printers found in the "exhibition hall":

Boring photo - but this is was just to remind me the name of the company that supply this printer.  When I have an odd $60,000 free I might buy one or two.

Again, this photo looks quite boring, but it's the principle that counts.   With our little 3D printer we can print one material at a time.  The printer that created this gang of push button switches did so with 8 different plastic properties (from hard to really soft).  Try push one of the buttons and you'll see what I mean.  :-)

 Now this print is fabulous.  It actually has a really hard plastic (light grey) for the rim of the wheel and a "rubbery" wheel - feels very close to a try tire.

This was printed in one hit - not as 2 separate parts.

What you can't see however, is that the inside of the tyre is hollow and the rim is as it would be build (not just a fake facade).  That's impressive (well to me at least).

The foot.  Again a 3D print.  How good would this be for med students.  The bones have been created with a dense white plastic and the rest with plastic that resembles and feels like "ballistic jell" (like the myth busters use for "buster")

Here's a bit more of a close up showing the composite foot 3D print.  Pretty cool ha?












Now let's just have a look at where 3D printing is stretching to.  Printing of 3D concrete walls?  Just take a look at the following youtube link:

Printing concrete walls...

Food for thought:  Imagine being able to alter the properties dynamically during a print (i.e. printing a plastic object from a hard composition to essentially a softer composition).  Imagine being able to print an overhanging concrete slab from with varying substrate properties from say "standard" to "light weight" in one pour (or should I say print).  Where will printing lead???

PS.  Printing in concrete with different densities can already been done (Link).

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1:00 to 2:30pm - "Getting the most out of AutoCAD 2013" by Lynn Allen

Good session presented by Lynn on Tips and Tricks for release 13.  These included:

• To change the quick access toolbar right click on it to edit.  This access the CUI file
• CTRL <R> to toggle through viewports
• Pick and object, right click and pick "add selected".  This sets to the objects layer, linetype, text style, hatch, etc.
• LAYMRG merges objects onto the same layer
• BLENDCURVES will join and blend arcs, splines, plines, etc
• Easiest way to work with system variebles is using the SYSVDLG command
• To change an attribute in place without calling up the dialogue box is by holding down the CTRL key and double picking the attribute.
• Use QDIM for multiple dimensioning
• DEMREASOS will highlight any dimensions that have been "fudged"
• To purge text apps, type DASHPURGE, and REGAPPS.
• And many more....

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3:00 to 4:30pm - "Navisworks isn't just for contractors - how an architecture firm is using Navisworks to improve its process"

Why the image above?  Because I don't have many photos of the session.  Key points discussed:

• Inception of the software was in 1997
• Bought by AutoDesk (along with practically every other software!!!) in 2007
• Naviswork is able to manage massive quantities of data
• It has superior navigation and speed
• Excellent in "clash detection"
• Collaborative expansion
• Rendering

Some important facts about the model:

• Ownership of a drawing in collaboration - "you model it, you own it".
• If collaborating with common drawing files, drawing is drawn accurately
• Coordination of the BIM model with all sub-contractors is essential
• The skill level of the consultants is very important.  Be wary of consultant's that claim to be BIM "experts".

The question of "full coordinated" was raised.  Does this guarantee that the building can be built?

If a designer provides a poor model (lots of clashes), who's at fault?

Coordination is essential.

Photo opposite - me and Indi - we go way back!!!

When creating 3D drawings, if you can't see a particular detail at the printed scale, then don't model that detail as it's not required

When considering BIM, higher fees need to be accommodated for DD.  However the overall cost should be the same.

Owners may use "NavisFreedom" to view a model during SD, DD and CS.  Also "Codebook" can be used for program validation (this is one of many that are available).

A Navisworks created video was shown outlining the staging of a building works for a major project - sorry no video.

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5:00 to 6:30pm - "Integrated BIM workflows in modular prefabricated construction.  Concept to fabrication"

This session was based on how a company integrated BIM in modular prefab construction (as the title says).

Why the picture opposite?  Just to give you a squizz at the room to set the atmosphere for these sessions.  Check out the guy in the back row second from the left - he's snoring!  Just joking.









Points discussed included:

• The discussion here was about minimizing costs considering modularisation, repetition, division and integration.  How extreme you get depends largely on the project
• With this particular building, both 2D and 3D documentation was required.  The shopfitters would be working in 2D, whereas the design building will be drawn in 3D.
• Need here to consider the "kit of parts" of the module.  It's best to keep to the standard (as there will inevitably be derivatives of the standard module)
• You never get a pure repeat in a multistorey building.  There is usually a set of kits
• The kits are nested / linked
• Do you overlay or attach a module?  If you put alot of detail in each module, you'll hardly ever need to get to the level where you're seeing the whole assembly.  You will usually be working in the module level.  So attaching may be best.

• When designing, you need to consider opportunities with the design team for prefab possibilities.
• In manufacturing the structure (i.e. concrete pours) deviations need to considered in "as built" changes to documentations so that shop fitter drawings can be adjusted
• The real benefit to the owner in the end is the quality and accuracy.
• Ease of fit-off is highly increased with this accuracy

In the picture opposite, is an examples of "markers" being placed in the building during construction indicating location of "virtual" models

It was noted that it is really up to the client to believe in this "vision" as there is an inherent cost.