One Piece at a Time

The client required 3D reconstructions of as-manufactured paper-forming fabrics. These are the textiles on to which wood pulp slurry is deposited and pressed into paper.

An existing reconstruction method analogous to microtomy was refined and documented. The workflow included: sample fixturing; successive machining/slicing and imaging; AutoCAD 2D vector tracing; and SolidWorks 3D modelling.

Digital models were used by researchers for CFD analysis, while 3D printed physical models were created for particle image velocimetry experiments and marketing demontrations.

Several fabric models were reconstructed, and the client was hosted for a training workshop on the process.