[X] My Assistant

[vjkane]

As some of you may know, NASA has released 3D-printable files for many of its spacecraft and a few planetary bodies and surfaces (your own 3D model of Vesta, for example). I suspect that I'm not the only one here who would like to have a collection of high-fidelity spacecraft models.

I'm wondering if anyone here has printed these models? Many seem to have problems the prevent them from being printed with several commercial services I've checked with using any of their printing models. For example, the solar panels on the Juno model are too thin as are the edges of Cassini's high gain antenna, its booms, and the shields around its thrusters among other parts.

The Curiosity model does appear to be printable, and a number of people have printed out the 50 parts or so and assemble them (see here). Curiosity is on my list, but I'd like to print some of the other models, too.

Does anyone on this board have the experience with 3D printing to suggest specific printing companies who might be able to handle fine models? Or tricks of printing or materials? Or perhaps you've spent the time to building up your 3D editing skills and have editing the problem areas to create printable files?

Thanks!