How to Generate a 3D Printable Model from a DEM

In this tutorial, we demonstrate how create a STL file for 3D printing using a digital elevation model (DEM) downloaded from OpenTopography. We use the the DEMto3D plugin in QGIS to generate the STL file, which can then be viewed and modified using the 3D Builder software.

This tutorial uses version 3.4 of the DEMto3D plugin. For versions 3.5 or 3.51, there are options for "Height (m)" and "Base height (mm)". For 'height', use the value of the lowest point, which is listed next to the cell. In 'base height,' select how tall you would like the solid base of the model to be. (Recommended to use the most stable current QGIS version, e.g., 3.28)

Software needed:

Online 3D printing services:

OpenTopography facilitates community access to high-resolution, Earth science-oriented topography data and related tools and resources

[BCS-K]

The pronunciation is very clear and crisp, like a news anchor, which is great.

And the progress is explained step by step so that it is easy to understand.

You are the best.

👍

[michaelhunter]

This video and the plugin it teaches about single handedly helped launch a series of projects that I am so excited about! Thank you!!

[ArktikosAdventures]

This doesn't work now since the plugin has not been updated to work with the latest Qgis release. If you use an earlier version it might work though.

[davedavem]

Very cool. Might try applying this to CNC too!

[jeffreysmith]

How might the settings change if using a resin printer? Anti aliasing and layer height?

[niflag]

Should the "spacing" value match the printer nozzle size?

[seiditat]

Thank you so much for the information and guide. I have 2 questions. 1, is that I notice after I insert the recommended spacing, 0.2, and then specify my desired width, the recommended spacing changes quite a bit (not the text box, but the displayed recommended spacing next to it), sometimes into the >1.5 range. I don't fully understand what happens with this setting, or how the recommendation is suggested. 2, is that once I open the STL in a slicer or 3d viewer, I notice it's very "cuboid". I'm presuming this is related to the DEM's resolution which in my case from USGS is the 1/3 arc minute DEMs. If that is the best resolution I can get from the available DEM, is there a relatively easy way to smooth out the cubes and have it print more similar to contour lines? Thanks in advance!

[AndreeewP]

All the lakes in my TIF file that I exported from Open Topography are missing data and come out as holes in the exported STL. Any suggestions?

[FBreezy]

When I open the DEM in qgis it doesn't look as high quality as your example, how can I fix this?

[thefutureisnow]

DemTo3D generates only cuboid stls, regardless of any parameters input, no relief on top.
Why?

[Kyle-zgmj]

Can you drape aerials over this and whats the max size you can create?

[asepmuhammad]

Good. Can we use this plugin in ArcGIS software?