Find the most suitable 3D printer for your needs.
We guide you to find the best option according to your needs.
Find the most suitable 3D scanner for your needs.
Contact us and we'll get it for you.
Find the most suitable filament for each application.
Find the most suitable resin for each application.
Find the most suitable powder for each application.
Find the most suitable pellets for each application.
Find the accessory you need for your 3D printer.
Find the ideal accessories for your 3D prints.
In the world of architecture and civil engineering, technological evolution has redefined how models and mock-ups are created and presented. 3D printing has taken on a decisive role in this context, transforming workflows by facilitating the rapid and precise fabrication of complex models. This ability to iterate digital designs tangibly is revolutionizing the way architectural firms visualize and communicate their proposals.
However, not all 3D printing technologies offer the same results. In the field of architectural modeling, two techniques stand out for their complementarity: FDM printing (Fused Deposition Modeling) and resin printing. Strategically combining them allows for the creation of architectural models that unite structure, scale, and detail with a quality difficult to achieve using a single method.
Each technology offers distinct advantages that, when used together, enhance each other. FDM printing is fast, economical, and effective for producing large-volume parts such as main structures, topographical bases, or exterior walls. However, its resolution is limited, which can affect the representation of finer elements.
For its part, resin printing (SLA, DLP, LCD) stands out for its precision, smooth surface, and ability to reproduce intricate details with high fidelity. It is ideal for visually critical elements such as facades, windows, furniture, or scaled vegetation. Its main limitation lies in print volume and the time required for large parts.
The synergy between both technologies allows architects, engineers, and enthusiasts to create robust and detailed models, optimizing time, costs, and visual quality. From presentation models to functional prototypes, this combination represents a new standard in the fabrication of architectural models.
FDM printing offers a solid and cost-effective solution for producing the structural components of a model. Using materials like PLA, ABS, PETG, or ASA, it is possible to quickly print walls, roofs, platforms, or terrains. Its production speed favors agile iterations in early design phases, while the wide range of filaments available allows adapting physical properties according to model needs.
Additionally, filaments that imitate wood, stone, or sand can be strategically used to create realistic models without the need for post-processing.
Thanks to its ease of use and lower maintenance compared to resin printers, FDM is consolidating as an accessible and effective tool for architectural firms seeking to integrate 3D printing into their daily work without excessive technical complexities.
When the goal is to show aesthetic fidelity and complex details, resin printing is essential. Its superior resolution allows reproducing railings, window frames, ornamental structures, and even trees or human figures with remarkable visual precision.
The use of standard resins, such as high-detail or transparent resins to simulate glass, or ABS-like resins for greater resistance, opens up new creative possibilities. This technology becomes an essential ally for the most visible and delicate components of the model, significantly elevating its realism and communicative value.
An effective strategy is to adopt a modular approach. In the CAD design phase, identify the parts best suited for FDM (structures, bases, volumetric elements) and those requiring resin printing (details, furniture, landscaping). Designing each component with appropriate tolerances and interlocking systems — such as tabs, slots, or inserts — facilitates subsequent assembly.
It is also possible to integrate resin details directly into FDM structures through cavities designed for pouring and curing liquid resin. This type of advanced technique, although more demanding, allows for achieving integrated and highly visual results that combine the best of both worlds.
Once the architectural model components are designed, the next essential step is their preparation using the appropriate slicing software. For parts intended for FDM printing, programs like Cura, PrusaSlicer, Simplify3D, or IdeaMaker allow configuring key parameters such as layer height, infill density, print speed, or extrusion temperature. In the case of resin printing, tools like Lychee Slicer or Chitubox offer specific functionalities for orienting the part, generating supports, and adjusting exposure times per layer.
Optimizing these parameters for each printing technology is crucial to achieving the desired quality, strength, and efficiency. A well-configured slicer ensures that each printer operates within its optimal range, maximizing printing success and reducing errors or failures.
In both FDM and resin printing, the use of support structures is common to allow for the correct printing of overhangs and complex geometries. It is important to master the generation of supports and their proper configuration according to the material and technology. After printing, the removal of these supports must be done carefully, especially on resin parts, to avoid damage to fine details. In FDM printing, the removal method will depend on the material used and the type of support configured. The effective use and precise removal of supports are key to preserving the integrity of the parts and their surface finish.
Resin printed parts require a post-processing workflow to achieve their final properties. This includes an initial wash with isopropyl alcohol to remove uncured resin residue, followed by UV curing to obtain the appropriate strength and mechanical characteristics. Depending on the desired finish, additional treatments such as sanding, priming, or painting can be applied, contributing to a perfect aesthetic integration with FDM printed parts.
The final assembly of the printed components is the last step in the hybrid workflow. To achieve strong and visually coherent unions, it is important to use suitable adhesives such as cyanoacrylate or epoxy, always ensuring that surfaces are clean. If the design provides for mechanical joints, screws, pins, or tongue-and-groove type fittings can be used. The chosen assembly method must guarantee the structural stability of the model and its visual cohesion, faithfully reflecting the original architectural design.
The combination of FDM and resin technologies opens up a range of possibilities for robust, detailed models adapted to each scale. Some illustrative examples:
Contemporary housing: main structure (walls, roof) printed in FDM with PLA; windows, railings, and facade details in transparent and standard resin to provide realism and visual definition.
Urban planning model: terrains and basic building volumes printed in FDM; iconic buildings and urban furniture (benches, trees) in resin to highlight key details.
Complex structure with technical joints: beams and supports printed in FDM for their strength, combined with detailed structural joints in resin to illustrate precise engineering solutions.
These examples demonstrate the flexibility of the hybrid approach, adaptable to both residential projects and urban developments or complex technical structures.
To ensure success in combined FDM-resin models, some critical factors should be taken into account:
Material compatibility: ensure that the filaments and resins chosen are compatible in terms of adhesion, mechanical strength, and thermal behavior.
Calibration and maintenance: in both FDM and resin printers, print surface leveling, nozzle cleaning, or Z-axis adjustment are necessary tasks to achieve precision and reliability.
Design and slicing tools: use CAD software with segmented export capability by technology, and slicers with advanced functions (support generation, hollowing options, etc.).
Troubleshooting common problems: such as adhesion between materials, warping, or dimensional variations, which can be mitigated through sanding, strategic orientation in slicing, or tolerance adjustment in design.
At filament2print.com you will find everything you need to carry out this hybrid workflow effectively and professionally:
FDM Printers with different print areas, dual extrusion, or enclosed chambers.
Resin Printers with high resolution to achieve exceptional details.
Filaments like PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, or composite materials.
Specialized resins, from standard and transparent to tough or eco-friendly.
Post-processing accessories: UV curing stations, cleaning tools, and industrial adhesives.
The combination of FDM and resin technologies represents a decisive advance in the creation of architectural models. It allows for balancing economy, scale, precision, and aesthetics in an optimized workflow. Thanks to this synergy, professionals and enthusiasts can materialize their ideas with a level of detail and functionality previously unattainable.
In a sector where visual fidelity and the ability to communicate design are key, this hybrid technique is positioned as an innovative and accessible solution. And with the technical and material support of filament2print.com, taking the leap into this new paradigm is within reach of any studio or maker committed to excellence.
I have read and accept the privacy policy.