3D Printing for Visualisation of the Complex Physical Structures of Agent-Based Simulation Models on Lattices

摘要

Visualising the complex emergent spatial structure of large-scale agent-based models is a challenge that is only partially addressed by 3D rendering. We explore the use of 3D printing technology to construct physical artifacts from lattice-oriented models such as the Kawasaki and Potts models in 3D. We describe the problems of support structure, resolution and overhangs in constructing physical 3D print models, and describe our work using additive manufacturing technologies including both both Filament Fabrication and Powder-Bed Fabrication. We experimented with cut away approaches to reveal the complex internal structure of the emergent model configurations and we describe our techniques for generating 3D printable artifacts for models of this nature. We found that powder bed technology enabled quite crisp coloured model components, and present some photographic examples of printed complex model system configurations, showing results of quenching and annealing in stochastic lattice simulations.