Somerset Council’s Library Service has used 3D scanning and printing technology to produce a replica of the Ilminster Ring, a Roman-era artifact dating to 297 AD.
The original ring and its printed replica were displayed together at the Ilminster Roman Ring Discovery Day last week, an event organized by the South West Heritage Trust and the Ilminster Arts Center.
The replica was built from a digital model captured with a 3D hand scanner funded by the British Library. The scanner produced a detailed model of the ring, which the library service then used to generate the printed copy shown alongside the original at the event.
The Ilminster Ring is a local archaeological find dating to 297 AD. Digitizing it with the hand-held scanner allowed the library service to reproduce its form in a printed replica without altering or risking the original object, which remained on display next to the copy during the discovery day.
Somerset Libraries has offered 3D printing services to the public for about 10 years, working with individuals, community groups, schools and businesses.
Past projects supported through the service have included bespoke parts produced for a local electric mobility company and oversized dice made for a community initiative called the Dice Project, along with models and prototypes used in schools and by community groups.
“Somerset Libraries has been championing accessible 3D printing technology for a decade, demonstrating how libraries continue to combine innovation, learning and community heritage,” said Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities at Somerset Council.
