The Nature Museum in the Netherlands uses a 3D printer to reconstruct a dinosaur skeleton from 67 million years ago

China3D printingNet, August 30, used by the Naturalis Biodiversity Center of the National Institute of Biodiversity in the Netherlands3D printingand3D scanningTo help rebuild the triceratops skeleton. They are using Builder Extreme 1500 PRO 3D printingMachine to replace the missing bones in the new exhibition.


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part” alt=”Close-up of the skull of a triceratops (Dirk) with
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Parts” />

Triceratops(Dirk) a close-up of the skull, using3D printingpart. The photo is from Naturalis.

The triceratops, named Dirk, is now on display in the Dinosaur Gallery of the New Naturalis Museum in Leiden, which has been in existence for two years. LiveScience Gallery also exhibits Natural Extreme 3D printingMachine, Naturalis uses it to rebuildTriceratops model.
“Modern paleontologists use 3D imaging and printing techniques as tools to reconstruct fossil remains found in scientific excavations.” Naturalis Public and Marketing Director Dr. Peter H. Schalk explained.
“3D printingThe machine is deployed in the life gallery of the New Nature Museum for a continuous demonstration to the public how to print and assemble in DINOSAUR SKELETONS. “


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Pieces on Builder Extreme 1500 PRO” alt=”Triceratops hips
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Triceratops hips3D printingThe piece is on the Builder Extreme 1500 PRO. The photo is from Naturalis.

Builder 3D printingMeet the large-scale needs of Naturalis

Naturalis has a rich collection of natural history, covering more than 42 million different items. Like Triceratops, the series also includes the 66 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus skeleton discovered in Montana in 2013, as well as various other dinosaur specimens. TriceratopsThe skeleton was excavated near Newcastle, Wyoming, and is estimated to be approximately 67 million years old.
fromTriceratopsWorking paleontologists found some missing bones, including some ribs, a horn and a large part of the skull. Naturalis wanted to display the triceratops skeleton in its new museum, and they decided to rebuild these missing parts.


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Builder Extreme 1500 PRO 3D printingmachine. The photo is from Naturalis.

The center has been in use for the past two years3D printing, Only produce small parts on desktop-sized systems.
However, the triceratops model represents a larger project, with replacement bones between 50 and 130 cm in length. Therefore, Naturalis invested in Builder Extreme 1500 PRO, which is a large FFF 3D printingMachine with a print bed of 1100 x 500 x 820 mm size.



Triceratops calf is being printed on Builder Extreme 1500 PRO. The photo is from Naturalis.

The PRO model is upgraded to the standard Builder Extreme 1500 released in 2016, with a printing speed of up to 120 mm/s and a layer resolution of 0.1 to 0.9 mm. The system is equipped with Simplify3D software and optimized FFF profiles for 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mm nozzles. Builder also3D printingThe machine is equipped with built-in transport wheels to improve its maneuverability in the work space, as well as BOFA’s air filter.

3D printingSpare parts for triceratops dinosaur

In order for scientists to start3D printingThe missing part of the triceratops, they need to scan the other triangular dragons to accurately represent what they know must be built. “For example, if we have a left leg bone but the right corresponding bone is missing, we can easily scan and mirror3D printing. Schulp explained. However, some of the reconstructed skeletal elements, especially the vertebrae, were derived from scans of the triceratops skeleton at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, whose bones are believed to complement the triceratops.


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rib cage” alt=”26 Triceratops
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Ribs” />

26 Triceratops3D printingrib cage. The photo is from Naturalis.

Builder Extreme has now been continuously in the past two months3D printingWith the missing bones, 100 different parts were produced.For Naturalis, capturing3D printingEvery visible subtle detail of the bones in the part is very important.Therefore, focus on3D printingThe quality of the support structure is used to handle more complex shapes.exist3D printingAfter and post-processing, draw the bones by hand.because3D printingThe similarity between the bones and the actual printed bones, the color of the replacement parts is slightly lighter, allowing visitors to distinguish between real and artificial parts.
Completed in time when the museum opened in August, the restoration of the triceratops has prompted Naturalis to book the Builder Extreme 1500 PRO for other major projects.The system is exhibited in a museum to inform the public how it is used by paleontologists3D printingRestore missing parts of dinosaur bones.

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