3D Digital Technology Helps Paleontologists Build Dinosaur Models from Fossils

Taurovenator (the genus name meaning "bull hunter") was originally named Taurovenator violantei and described in 2016; the earliest description was based on a postorbital (temporal-region) bone specimen from the Huincul Formation in Argentina. The animal is classified among the large carcharodontosaurid theropods and shows morphological affinities and comparability with other South American giant predators such as Giganotosaurus and Mapusaurus. In recent years, ongoing fieldwork and research by multiple scholars and teams have significantly expanded our understanding of the species.

Dr. Fernando Novas and Prof. Marcelo Pablo Isasi are the principal participants in the research on Taurovenator. They are researchers at CONICET (the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina), and have an extensive record of collaboration and publications with colleagues at home and abroad on the paleobiota of Patagonia and other South American faunas — for example, research connected with the discovery of Kostensuchus atrox, a formidable crocodile from roughly 70 million years ago found in Patagonia.

Dr. Fernando Novas (right) and Prof. Marcelo Pablo Isasi (left)

Complete skull of Kostensuchus atrox, measuring nearly 50 centimeters in length

In the discovery and subsequent work on Taurovenator, local institutions, foundations, and companies have also taken part in model production and display — for example, Fundación Azara and the specialist 3D printing company Dryada.

Digital Workflow: How to Turn Fossils into Printable Models

In the Taurovenator reconstruction project, researchers adopted the following key steps, which are also the mainstream processes in current paleontological digitization work:

• Efficient 3D scanning and photogrammetry:

Researchers primarily used the SHINING 3D EinScan Pro HD 3D scanner together with photogrammetry to obtain 3D models. This method allows data collection without causing any damage to precious fossils. The EinScan Pro HD generates dense point clouds and produces high-resolution models. Its use of structured blue light ensures high accuracy, and its multifunctional design makes it suitable for objects of different sizes and materials, while also offering fast scanning speed. Combined with a large number of high-definition photographs taken with cameras, the dinosaur’s 3D model was faithfully reconstructed.

3D scanning with EinScan Pro HD, a structure light multi-functional 3D scanner

• Modeling and anatomical restoration:

In 3D software, researchers cleaned the scanned data (noise reduction, repairing broken parts), applied digital mirroring (to generate missing sides), and reconstructed the skeleton assembly on screen. This step required both the anatomical expertise of paleontologists (bone positioning, posture inference) and the modeling skills of digital engineers.

Reconstructing dinosaur skeletal details based on scanned data

• 3D printing:

Because the animal was so large, its complete skeleton could not be printed in one piece within a conventional printer chamber. The research team divided the digital skeleton into multiple smaller parts suitable for the printer size and easy assembly. Each part was designed with digital joints for later fitting. The parts were then printed piece by piece using FDM printers with common materials such as PLA.

Models 3D printed in sections, will be assembled together

• Post-processing, reinforcement, and assembly:

After printing, the parts required the removal of support structures, polishing, and hot-melt joining. To enhance the strength of the bones, the production team inserted metal rods inside the printed bones as supports, then filled the cavities with a two-component rigid polyurethane resin to increase rigidity. Finally, each bone was mounted onto the overall metal framework in a predesigned posture, resulting in a complete, freestanding exhibition skeleton.

The model displayed at the exhibition

The Value of 3D Scanning and Printing Technology in Paleontology

After scanning, digital models can replace the need to frequently handle the original fossils. Printed replicas can be used for research or exhibitions, while the originals are preserved in safer environments. This reduces the risks to the original specimens during display and at the same time increases the reach of public science education. Moreover, 3D files can be easily shared online, allowing researchers worldwide to remotely access high-precision models for morphological studies, measurements, or teaching, greatly enhancing collaborative efficiency.

For the older generation of paleontologists, this may seem almost unbelievable: dinosaur skeletons are no longer just the products of plaster molds and resin castings, but can now be modeled on a computer and “grown” in a printer.

As Professor Marcelo Isasi put it: “This new technology will mark a turning point in the development of paleontological techniques in Argentina.”