Physical modeling, which involves hanging elements, enables architects and engineers to design structures such as arches and shells, but can be time consuming. Additionally, hanging methods that generate invertible models are typically used to create continuous shells. How can 3D printing be integrated into this type of physical modeling, enabling designers to rapidly develop conceptual designs for gridshells? This paper presents two methods that combine 3D printing using 3D printing pens with hanging, heating, and inverting to make small-scale gridshell models. The feasibility of the methods is demonstrated using low-cost prototypes, each of which is made in under one hour. These methods enable designers to explore a range of forms by quickly creating and reconfiguring models that can be visually assessed, tested, and/or digitized for further evaluation.
