FL Smidth Industrial Model

Industrial Model

This mobile stacking conveyor is part of a system of conveyors that is used in the mining industry to continuously stack mined material. To demonstrate the immense scale of this machine, FLSmidth commissioned a 1:75th scale industrial model for trade shows and client visits.

Industrial Model

This was our very first project involving a model that was made of 95% 3D printed material. Drawings were created in Inventor for days. The 3D printer grew parts. They were cleaned and sorted. The model was painstakingly pieced together. Brass etched railings were added, as well as a conveyor belt depicting material being moved up it. A pick up truck was added (slightly bigger than matchbox size) for scale.

Industrial Model

Industrial Model

Industrial Model

Industrial Model

Lately, our model makers have chosen to pack our most delicate scale models in a custom-made foam and cardboard enclosure, before placing it in yet another layer of foam that lines the Pelican cases we often use.

packing a scale model

packing a scale model

packing a scale model

packing a scale model

Intricate Build of Manifold Trailer Industrial Model

This industrial model of a Manifold Trailer for Forum Energy Technologies involved extensive use of our 3D printer. The result was stunning detail, accuracy, and with the addition of brass structure, great strength.

KiwiMill model makers were very pleased with this attempt to create a model primarily of 3D printed parts that were then assembled into the finished product.

 

 

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Creating Wooded Areas on a Site Model

landscape model

Ever wonder how to make wooded areas on a small-scale site model? After much experimentation over the years, KiwiMill settled on a method that captures the essence of this particular landscape. Interestingly, it does not involve planting hundreds of individual model trees close together. No matter how tightly placed the trees, this method still lets in too much light – not realistic looking for a densely wooded area.

flock

Instead, industrial filters – the kind used in air conditioning units – form the base for the wooded areas. These filters are then hand-sculpted by the model makers. Depending on the over-all scale of the model, these sculpted pieces are layered on top of each other. Three layers of 1/2 inch thick filters represent 60 ft  high trees accurately.

landscape model

site model landscape

The layers are painted all over the surfaces with glue and flocked with various natural shades of green, brown and yellow. When placed on a site model they represent small-scale wooded areas with depth and lushness.

site model landscape

site model landscape

Scale Model Donation for Habitat for Humanity

KiwiMill recently provided a scale model donation for Flower City Habitat for Humanity’s 2012 Roc Properties fundraising event.  We chose to support this worthy cause based on its motto, “a hand up, not a hand out.”

With donations of time, money and skills, homes are built in neighborhoods in need of rehabilitation. New home owners are asked to put 450 hours of sweat equity into the builds, and offered interest-free mortgages to purchase these houses in return.

By clustering these house builds in specific neighborhoods, the surrounding community benefits as well as the individual home owners. It has a rippling effect, and the City of Rochester becomes a better place to live and prosper in.

The event we sponsored is an annual Flower City Habitat fundraiser to share the mission of, and raise money for, the house building program. In addition to financial sponsorship, we were pleased to design, build and donate decorative scale models for the themed event, along with symbolic “keys” used to open prize chests.

Four City of Rochester icons were chosen for the scale model donation: The Chase Tower, the Times Square Building, the George Eastman House and the Frederick Douglass Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge. A total of 22 models were created for the evening’s event which took place at Artisan Works, on March 30, 2012.