Oxford University’s animal flight group contacted Esotechnic to create a wind tunnel model of a Locust for their experiments. They wanted to use CT data they had captured to create a x4 version in gloss black. Esotechnic was able to process the raw layer data in Matlab to remove the internal structure and to create a watertight solid before converting this to the SLC format with our own software. SLC is a more compact format than STL and is easily processed by the printer so the model did not need to be simplified prior to 3D printing.
Some of the rear of the insect was missing and the model was not aligned along its axis so a “plug” was created in Rhino3D using a partial STL of the original model to create the mounting surface, this was printed and glued into the rear to provide a datum surface and mounting point.
Both parts were printed on our B9Creator resin based printer with a 56um pixel and layer resolution, they were then joined and a cast made in black polyurethane under pressure using a silicone mold before polishing.
