Chemical plant sand table model manufacturer

Project Background and Production Philosophy

This project is based on a real petrochemical company and uses a ‘layered modular’ production process. It combines 3D scanning of real-world data with manual refinement to achieve 90% accuracy. The focus is on showing the three-dimensional spatial relationships between the pipeline network, reaction tower clusters, and equipment clusters, highlighting the unique industrial aesthetics of a chemical plant.

Core Production Process

1. Skeleton Construction Phase

Foundation Preparation: 5mm-thick acrylic sheets are laser-cut to outline the plant perimeter. Foam rubber is used to shape terrain contours, with a gypsum plaster layer applied to simulate hardened ground surfaces.

Main Frame: 304 stainless steel wires are welded to form pipeline supports. ABS sheets are thermoformed to create reactor tower cylinders. Critical load-bearing sections are reinforced with embedded brass columns for stability.

2. Equipment Fine-Tuning Production

Pressure Vessel Assembly: 3D-printed resin shells are sanded with sandpaper (400 grit → 1000 grit) to eliminate layer marks, and aluminium flanges are machined on a lathe.

Pipeline System: Copper tubes ranging from Φ2mm to Φ8mm are welded together, with bent sections moulded using injection-moulded silicone moulds, and valves assembled using etched plates.

Supporting facilities: Laser-engraved acrylic grating panels for cooling towers, assembled in layers; conveyor belts using rubber membrane embossing process

3. Surface treatment process

Base colouring: Industrial equipment uses Mr.Color series spray coating:

Reactor: C316 stainless steel colour + aged pastel

Pipes: GSF07 pipe orange with gradual colour transition

Steel structure: SM05 matte black base coat + dry-brushed silver paint

Special effects:

Steam exhaust ports with cotton fibre and LED foggers

Rust streaks on storage tanks (Tamiya X-19 wash solution + enamel paint highlights)

4. Environmental creation

Factory area roads: Model-grade asphalt particles mixed with quartz sand, rolled with a roller texture using an electric iron

Green belts: Electrostatic grass planting technology combined with layered application of Woodland Scenics grass powder

Safety signs: Water-transfer decals printed with company logo, then coated with a protective clear coat