3D Printing for Lithic Artifact Replication: Assessing Affordable Options

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Computer controlled additive manufacturing (3D printing) shows great potential for experimental archaeology, particularly lithics experimentation. As demonstrated by pioneering works in the current literature, 3D models of lithic artifacts can be printed to enable mold making and replication in porcelain, with far lower labor investment than through conventional flintknapping. However, as potentially useful as 3D printing is for duplicating lithics, it is also potentially expensive and can be finicky to operate. This research explores 3D printing as a means for creating replica projectile points for ballistics experimentation. Points were printed on a variety of inexpensive 3D printers, some of which were operated by trained technicians. SLA (Stereolithography) was found to produce better results than FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling). SLA models printed faster, at higher resolution, and with less cleanup of completed models required. In contrast to the high prices of the printing equipment described in the current literature, inexpensive SLA printers using UV curing resin were found to be capable of producing sufficiently detailed prints for our purposes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36695.0