Münster TV-Tower (Fernmeldeturm)

This model is dedicated to all telecommunications enthusiasts and to all Münster (and Bremen, Cuxhaven, Kiel) “expats” who want to have a souvenir of one of their city's most impressive landmarks.

Münster (Germany) Telecommunications Tower

The Münster telecommunications tower (Wikipedia English/German) is a telecommunications tower completed in 1986 with a total height of approx. 230 meters. Like the telecommunications towers in Bremen and Cuxhaven, this tower is a replica of the original tower in Kiel.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Fernmeldeturm_Muenster2.jpg

CC BY 3.0 DEED, “Wladyslaw”

3D-Model

I always wanted a model of this tower, but I couldn't find one that was as close to the original as I wanted. MistaBreed's model is a good start, and there is also a commercial model of the Bremen Tower. I finally decided to model the tower from scratch.

I checked several sources (mainly [1] and [2]) and photos from the internet to get some data about the dimensions of the tower. The model was created using OpenSCAD and the BOSL2 library.

Files

OpenSCAD

The file "fmt_ms.scad" contains the OpenSCAD description of the model. It contains all relevant dimensions which are partly derived from the sources mentioned above and partly estimated. Feel free to remix the model if you have more accurate data or if you want to add more details to the model.

STL

"fmt_ms.stl" is the compilation output of the OpenSCAD model. Note that this file may be difficult to print without additional pre-processing in your slicer software.

3mf and gcode

I have created two different 3mf files and gcode files for the Prusa MK4. The photos of the printed model are coming from the small version. I have not printed the large version yet.

Printing Tips

Upright Print

The drawbacks of printing the entire tower upright are the limited height, the lack of stability in the printing process, and the need for supports. If you choose this option, you should also set a minimum layer time of 5 seconds to avoid deformation of the tower tip (thanks to MistaBreed for pointing this out).

Decomposed Model

Therefore, I recommend a series of pre-processing steps in the slicer (I used Prusa Slicer). The two 3mf files provided with this model contain this pre-processing.

• When the tower is split along the z dimension, you have two identical halves with flat bottoms.
• Consider adding a base plate to increase the stability of the tower.
• Consider having the slicer add connectors.
• Consider adding brims around small and fragile parts, such as the tower tip and the connectors.

The downside of this approach seems to be the need for assembly and the visible seam(s) between the parts. I glued the two parts together. If the tower model is carefully positioned, the seams are barely visible from a medium distance.

Printing the small version ("fmt_ms_small.3mf") in this fashion took 1h and 18m.

Makes and Feedback

Feel free to submit your Makes and leave a comment and review! Have fun printing!