STATIC MECHANICAL DESIGN OF THE DINOSAUR CARCASS FOR DISPLAY

Abstract

The bones of Ichthyosaurs excavated on the territory of Kazakhstan in 2018 are kept at Nazarbayev University. Currently, they are unavailable for public display. The current work is dedicated to creating a 3D model of the available bones in an effort of creating a model of the full Ichthyosaurus to be displayed. After considering different methods of scanning and printing, the choice was set to ZEISS T-SCAN scanning technology to create a digital model of the bones and the FDM printing method with PLA+ filament. The choice is explained by a consideration of the availability of devices, the time the model was projected to take, and the quality of the produced models. The digital versions of the bones also went through a structural analysis for considerations of the appropriate assembling mechanisms using CAD-format softwares. The skeleton was 3D printed by using PLA+ filament in color “bone white” on Bambu Lab X1E printer. The bones were assembled into a full skeleton through metal wire and reinforcement. The metal framework was used to hang the skeleton, and nylon steel based metal alloy cables and construction lines were used as supports that hold the structure together. Overall, the aim of the project was met and the dinosaur carcass for display was prepared.