Based on the downloaded file, MeshLab and Blender were used to adjust the mesh, i.e., removing double vertices, excluding isolated faces and partial meshes, and introducing a negative sphere in the 'head' to speed up and facilitate printing by additive manufacturing. Finally printed in two halves, using PLA, at 0.2 mm detail, for a final size of about 20 cm tall. On a basic PRUSA machine it took about 13 h to complete printing.

Part of a series prepared for a didactic exhibition at CNR in Milano (Italy). All models are scaled to 1 million times and printed in the lab with a PRUSA MK3S 3D printing machine. 

Most files from 3d.nih db were modified using MeshLab, Blender and PrusaSlicer (see each virus for details). Some intermediate files (.blend or .obj) are available on request. 

The collection includes Yellow Mottle Tymovirus (YMT), Phages T7 and T4, Influenza, Zika, Papilloma, AdenoAssociated, and Ebola virus. All models were printed in various colors, and samples were distributed to observe symmetries, proportions and other features of each virus.