Bladerunner Ennis Tile

[spoudastis]

I have been looking for a full scale Ennis tile but havnt had much success. I did some research and decided to model it myself after finding some decent reference.

Schematic from Eric Lloyd Wright/Wiehle Carr Associated Architects. The dimensions are really difficult to read, but after scaling for an overall dimension of 16"x16" everything laid out perfectly

I also used a screenshot from the Offecct acoustic tile website as it was more clear but in the end the dimensioned drawing was much more useful.

I modeled in rhino with all of the subtle draft angles which took a lot more time than i thought it would to get right.

The next step will be to 3d print the tile then use it as a vacuum forming buck to do some pulls in ABS as they did in the original movie. Might also try to cast it in concrete for fun.

Does anyone in the San Diego area have a vacuum former that would be willing to help out?

 

[Pro Mod]

Great start. Subscribed!

 

[joberg]

Yep, might as well go to the source material to have exact measurements Looking good so far and eager to see your next update!

 

[GingerBeardMan]

Were you ever able to make these vacuform Ennis tiles?

 

[spoudastis]

unfortunately no. The 3d file is ready, i just need to 3d print it and either build a vacuum former, or find someone that has one to help. This project got relegated to the backburner, but its ready when the opportunity presents itself.

 

[GingerBeardMan]

unfortunately no. The 3d file is ready, i just need to 3d print it and either build a vacuum former, or find someone that has one to help. This project got relegated to the backburner, but its ready when the opportunity presents itself.

If you ever get it going, let me know, I'd be interested in buying some off you. The few I can find available now are either small and/or insanely expensive, and not at all financially feasible to do any kind of large surface.

 

[joberg]

If you ever get it going, let me know, I'd be interested in buying some off you. The few I can find available now are either small and/or insanely expensive, and not at all financially feasible to do any kind of large surface.

I went to a factory which designs food trays in a special treated paper (doesn't leak, or bent). It almost look like light plastic, but it's 100% degradable.
I asked them how much would it cost to do the Ennis tile in the same manner. Molds: $15.000 Canadian dollars.
Each tile: $1.75 if I buy a box of a hundred. Less pricy if I buy in bulk: 10 boxes of a hundred
At that rate, I'll be selling those until I die

 

[GingerBeardMan]

I went to a factory which designs food trays in a special treated paper (doesn't leak, or bent). It almost look like light plastic, but it's 100% degradable.
I asked them how much would it cost to do the Ennis tile in the same manner. Molds: $15.000 Canadian dollars.
Each tile: $1.75 if I buy a box of a hundred. Less pricy if I buy in bulk: 10 boxes of a hundred
At that rate, I'll be selling those until I die

I mean the price of $1.75 a tile sounds amazing but....not so much with a $15 grand mold fee. It's starting to look like there's no way to get these tiles at any sort of feasible price lol

 

[Astrobeej]

Excellent work on your interpretation of the plans! I've never seen those before, so I bought a 16" tile from the FLW foundation and pulled a silicone mold off of it. Neither were cheap, but now I can cast hollow, fabric reinforced plaster shells on demand! The finished shells weigh a bit less than 3 pounds each, I back them with illustration board and then just hang them like pictures!

 

[spoudastis]

View attachment 1936044
Excellent work on your interpretation of the plans! I've never seen those before, so I bought a 16" tile from the FLW foundation and pulled a silicone mold off of it. Neither were cheap, but now I can cast hollow, fabric reinforced plaster shells on demand! The finished shells weigh a bit less than 3 pounds each, I back them with illustration board and then just hang them like pictures!

This is the way for sure if you want them in mass. Great work!

 

[GingerBeardMan]

View attachment 1936044
Excellent work on your interpretation of the plans! I've never seen those before, so I bought a 16" tile from the FLW foundation and pulled a silicone mold off of it. Neither were cheap, but now I can cast hollow, fabric reinforced plaster shells on demand! The finished shells weigh a bit less than 3 pounds each, I back them with illustration board and then just hang them like pictures!

Very nicely done. Yeah, doing all that is a bit out of my budget at the moment. I guess I was a bit over hopeful thinking I could find something relatively basic but cheap and save money doing the texture/paint myself. I doubt there's enough of a market for anyone to do that in a large enough scale to make them too cheap lol. Oh well, maybe someday.