44 Printing cultural heritage Preserving the past using 3D technologies KEYWORDS: 3D-Printing; loss compensation; reconstruction techniques; cultural heritage; conservation. Conservation and restoration have always been grounded on traditional technologies, however, the interdisciplinarity that has strengthened in this field has led to the use of digital technologies developed in the last decade, like 3D. These new materials, instruments and technologies can already be used as part of cultural heritage conservation as they achieve results with great detail and fidelity compared to the original. Putting aside the archival factors and the virtual reconstructions options, the printing, on itself, gives a world of options when it comes to material durability, compatibility and sustainability, allowing conservators to adapt their choices to the material of the artworks. The simpler way to reconstruct a lost volume with 3D technologies is to place the printed piece on the artwork, and because some printing materials allow polishing and the application of finishing layers, acting like barrier between the artwork and the printed volume, it can be removed from the equation some concerns related to material compatibility. Another way is to create a cast of the missing pieces that, once printed, can be filled with the desired material ending up with a reconstruction made with an already well-known material, using 3D technologies as a way to obtain the final piece and not the final piece on itself. This cast can also be made from the printed model using known methods like silicone or dental wax. The choice of materials will always rely on their application: to print a cast or to print a missing part. Questions such as budget, time or the environmental impact should also be taken in account. Many 3D-related materials can answer such questions, for example, it is known that printing on polylactic acid is the most eco-friendly, and that FMD techniques are usually the most economical. The comparison of these methods with traditional techniques will always depend on the type of printing as well as the material. mafaldamaria99[at]gmail.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3Nzk=