Development of Radiolarian Shell Models Using Microfocus X-ray CT and Additive Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

We developed high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) digital data and materialized models of radiolarians to support paleontological research. Twenty specimens of radiolarians were scanned using a micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. Three-dimensional morphology data were constructed from the obtained two-dimensional (2D) tomographic data and converted into modelling data. Unnecessary impurity included in the morphology data was carefully removed. Enlarged models of 20 specimens were created as prototypes using fused filament 3D printing technology.