By David Reed, UT EditorBoulder City, Colorado-Polyurethanes are being used by The Relief Globe Company to create a series of globe models ranging from the Earth, its land masses and oceans, and off into outer space, with models of Mars (as shown here), Venus and the moon all becoming available. The models are made using stereolithography (SLA) based on data from public sources in Germany, Japan, the UK and the US. They feature grossly exaggerated vertical profiles, typically 250 or 300 times the actual measurements, in order to show the altitude or depth differences more clearly.The globes of the Earth are being sold at retail, wholesale, and by license. A fee of $10 000 will give copyright permission to manufacture copies of the globes for sale (with an additional royalty payment of 20 percent from gross revenues on sales), while retail prices range from $1000 for a 22-inch individual Earth model to $100 000 for the full Moon globe product, with all rights assigned to the purchaser. Shipping costs are extra, but the globes are supplied with either redwood stands or can be hung by hooks from the North pole.Digital files can also be sold, allowing purchasers to make unlimited numbers of SLA masters. The files cost $14 000. "All of the people of the world deserve to see the modern globes as soon as possible," says Relief Globe in a statement of its philosophy, adding that it is hoped that manufacturers from many countries will negotiate arrangements with the company to get approval to make copies of the globes.Further details are available from the company website: www.reliefglobe.com"
