Approximating the Hilbert curve with 3D printers

Thingiverse's Tony Buser has an amazing approach to approximating the Hilbert curve, as Make's Sean Ragan explains:

Veteran Thingiverse user Tony Buser has printed a model (intended to be an approximation of the fractal Hilbert curve) using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a support material. Once everything is printed and cooled, the PVA is dissolved away in a glass of water, leaving only the polylactic acid (PLA) model. This technique, when perfected, should allow RepRap-style FFF printers to produce objects with overhanging parts that are currently very difficult, or impossible, for them to print. Tony used two of MakerBot’s Mk7 extruders mounted on a Thing-o-Matic.

Fused Filament Printing with Water-Soluble Support

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

MORE: 3d printing • happy mutants • maker • math

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tamgoddess

I’ve been so excited about 3-D printing that I only just realized what an enormous potential for environmental disaster it is. Everyone pouring glasses of god-knows-what down the drain, off-gassing, etc. Non point source pollution is a bitch.
- Max
  
  Read Wikipedia about PLA/PVA. PVA is non toxic and degradeable.
  
  ABS printers use acetone as a solvent. But compare the volume used with the amount used for nail polish remover worldwide and the amount of ABS printed compared with what is in cars, TVs, etc….. and it’s probably a negligible amount on a global scale.
suburbanhick

I’ve been fascinated by Hilbert’s space-defining curve since I was in art college and a friend of mine did a series of paintings based upon it. A mutual friend of ours was studying higher mathematics, and he turned us onto it. It’s cool to see the different places it pops up, and how often it’s referenced.
Flashman

Isn’t the shape supposed to be continuous? This model seems to have two dead ends.
Still, it’s very cool looking. I’m going to model it in Form-Z, and try and figure out some architectural application for this idea.
- digi_owl
  
  Does not look like it:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert_curve
http://twitter.com/rvitelli Romeo Vitelli

Is that a Hilbert curve? It looks more like a Borg cube. Or it is futile of me to resist innovation?
AirPillo

I see a potential here to finally get a level 4 menger sponge model for under $100.

Well, maybe.
http://profile.yahoo.com/VNTTBNVPN7HMRJLO6GIJZVMVSU Bram

Commercial 3d printers have had soluble support material for years…so I don’t know if this qualifies as amazing. It is cool that it’s trickling down to the hobby level though!
- suburbanhick
  
  and commercial 3-D printing adapted the technology from lost-wax casting which has been around for thousands of years. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.