OBI Model Kit
Source Module Files in Sweet Home 3D
Communications
Hi Nathan,
Thanks for your interest. We would like to get a 3D printable scale model of the Seed Eco-Home modules.
Right now we have them all the modules in Sweet Home 3D. The idea would be to redo them in FreeCAD - so that we can make them part of a useful library of parts that we can use for other purposes - to generate 3D printing files, diagrams, exploded part animations, and even structural analysis. There is really no great way to export from Sweet Home to FreeCAD. Really, Sweet Home is a great modeling tool, but it does not allow the technical design that we need. The easiest way is to look at the modules in Sweet Home - and redraw them in FreeCAD.
But note that there is not a 1-1 correspondence, though. For useful 3D printable files - you need to do the outside shape of the module only - the internals of modules are not visible after 3D printing, and therefore do not need to be included in the redo in FreeCAD. In other words, we would have to generate a FreeCAD file that is dedicated to 3D printing. We essentially need to include in the FreeCAD only the features that are visible from the outside. Each module must be examined one by one to turn it into a 3d printable file.
Once we have them in FreeCAD, we would need to design a connector. One way to do this would be to simply use magnets on the bottom and top of wall modules - so these can be attached to floors, ceilings, and roofs. That is a concept - it would be up to you to design the actual thing in FreeCAD. Maybe some kind of interlocking mechanism could be used.
Someone just needs to get into it and do this.
A model kit would be useful for playing, prototyping, and for selling as an open source product. If you would like to take this on, that would be great. I'm including Chas, former OSE Dev Team member - as he is currently working on housing 3D models as well. He is interested in building a Seed Eco-Home. Chas, maybe you and Nathan could work on this together.
Nathan, is this something you can do?
Catarina, please point Nathan to the usable modules, and post links at https://wiki.opensourceecology.org/wiki/OBI_Model_Kit
Thanks, Marcin
