Suitable Size of 3D Printing Architecture Models for Tactile Exploration

Three-dimensional (3D) printers are useful in the education and welfare of the blind. However, there are not any established guidelines on the suitable size of models produced by 3D printers. We, therefore, printed models of six famous architectures with different complexities in three sizes (6, 12, and 18 cm). We conducted an experiment in which participants tactually explored these models, answered questions on the physical features of the architectures, and evaluated each model. The results of the physical feature questionnaires showed difficulty in detecting small dots (a few millimeters wide) in the 6-cm models and dented structures in all model sizes, and showed different impressions given by different sizes. The 18-cm models gained the highest ratings for all architectures but even smaller-sized models of less complicated architectures were understandable.