Students at the Architectural Association School of Architecture (the AA) in Central London are using two Roland DG MDX-540 milling machines to produce scale models of design concepts at the school's state-of-the-art digital prototyping lab. The AA is Britain's oldest and most prestigious school of architecture and is internationally renowned for its progressive thinking and embracing of new technology. Models produced using the MDX-540s include urban design proposals, landscapes and building components.

The AA offers undergraduate, graduate and master degrees, and the models produced by students using the MDX-540s are for their studies. According to Jeroen van Ameijde, Head of Digital Prototyping at the AA, the MDX-540's robust build makes it ideal for withstanding the rigours of daily use by enthusiastic students. "They are the most reliable machines in the lab and, with some students depending on them to produce models in time for graduation, they have to be. Each machine is used to produce between two and four models a day - sometimes being left to operate overnight - and they have never let us down."

Students using the MDX-540 at the AA are typically milling models out of high density foam or polyurethane modelling board, which is durable enough to ensure the models aren't easily damaged, but can be milled at high speed. The school uses its MDX-540s in conjunction with Rhino3D design software with ArtCam Pro and Mayka for the creation of tool paths.

The AA first opened its digital prototyping lab in summer 2007, with investment in its first MDX-540, along with two laser-cutting machines, a 3D printer and incorporating the existing larger 1200x1200 CNC machine. Before opening the lab, the students were forced to outsource their modelling requirements.

The experimental and creative nature of the prototyping work produced by students means that there is huge variation in the work carried out by the machines and Mr. Van Ameijde says that the MDX-540's versatility and ease of use has made it popular with the students and the staff. "Every model we develop is unique and the precision of the MDX-540s unlocks many new possibilities for us.”