Chopper Droid Replica WIP - Aluminium and 3D Printed

[Studio 49]

I’ve been working on some 3D modelling for my Industrial Design portfolio and thought Chopper would be a great excuse to do some CAD with detailed internals. So here I am starting another droid WIP thread!

After two evenings of modelling he’s starting to take shape, so I figured I’d share some WIP renders. I know that there's existing files out there, but I enjoy doing this sort of stuff from scratch. There's also plenty of accuracy tweaks I need to make, so don't mind any of the geometry that's inaccurate. Next up is the body, feet and dome arms.

I've been doing a screen recoding time-lapse of the entire 3D modelling process from start to finish. I figured It would make for a cool video on how I've made my Chopper model, so when the CAD work is done I'll post a video up

If you'd like to see other stuff I've designed/made I'm in the process of making myself a website for my design portfolio:
jonahpope.com

 

[Halliwax]

Oh boy!! Tell me this is your next 3d print project!!

 

[Studio 49]

I’m certainly thinking about it mate!!

But it wouldn’t be until a long while down the line, I still have to finish R2 for now haha
(Along with the tonne of other projects I have going!)

But I am going to design an Aluminium frame in the model so when I do make Chopper down the line I get a frame cut with the spare 3mm Aluminium I have left. And then I’d plan to clad it with 3D printer parts.

Well that’s the plan anyway haha

 

[Halliwax]

I’m certainly thinking about it mate!!

But it wouldn’t be until a long while down the line, I still have to finish R2 for now haha
(Along with the tonne of other projects I have going!)

But I am going to design an Aluminium frame in the model so when I do make Chopper down the line I get a frame cut with the spare 3mm Aluminium I have left. And then I’d plan to clad it with 3D printer parts.

Well that’s the plan anyway haha

Wow!!! I am pretty sure you’ll be the first aluminum chopper frame!

Please keep me updated with this, chopper is a favorite of mine

 

[Studio 49]

Wow!!! I am pretty sure you’ll be the first aluminum chopper frame!

Please keep me updated with this, chopper is a favorite of mine

Of course! I may be a while until I can build him, but there's nothing to stop be designing it all!

 

[Halliwax]

Of course! I may be a while until I can build him, but there's nothing to stop be designing it all!

Wicked excited to see the progress man!

 

[Studio 49]

I'm excited to say my Chopper 3D model is pretty much finished!

Still needs a couple extra greebles and and accuracy tweaks but it’s finished enough for now.
I modelled him from scratch in Autodesk Inventor using screenshots and other production reference images. Then I rendered it all in Keyshot today.
At some point I’ll design an Aluminium frame and 3D print it all, but that’s for after R2 is all done and dusted.

I did also do a time-lapse screen recording of the whole modelling process, so once I've finished editing that I'll be sure to post it up here

 

[Halliwax]

Damn man! You work quick! That looks awesome!

 

[Studio 49]

Thanks mate! I'm really stoked with the end result

 

[BudaFett]

Woah Chopper looks amazing!

 

[Studio 49]

Since usually people only see finished 3D models or WIP renders, so I thought it could be cool to document the entire modelling process. I took 12 hours of design/modelling footage and cut it into a 12 minute time-lapse screen recording showing what happens behind the scenes.
I know most will find it boring since it’s 12 minutes, so if anything it’s cool to have a personal record the project

 

[Halliwax]

Since usually people only see finished 3D models or WIP renders, so I thought it could be cool to document the entire modelling process. I took 12 hours of design/modelling footage and cut it into a 12 minute time-lapse screen recording showing what happens behind the scenes.
I know most will find it boring since it’s 12 minutes, so if anything it’s cool to have a personal record the project

Awesome! Gives me something to watch tonight!

 

[Studio 49]

Awesome! Gives me something to watch tonight!

Awesome
Hopefully it's not too boring of a watch!

 

[Studio 49]

I thought I’d share some of the work I’m doing on my Chopper 3D model.
I’m now in the process of designing an aluminium frame for him.

The idea then is the skins will be 3D printed to sleeve around the frame and have the ability to be removed. The frame design is still very much a WIP, but it’s slowly taking shape.
The features I’ve included thus far include:
- Removable 3D printed skins
- Removable skirt
- Adjustable legs (can position in 2 leg or 3 leg mode)
- And I’ve designed it to be modular so I can do maintenance and modifications more easily down the line

I’ve designed this to be made from 3mm Aluminium as I have a bunch spare of that, so this way I’m using the material I have. That’s why in the model I have two pieces of 3mm layered together to create 6mm thick parts.

I won’t be physically building Chopper anytime soon, but I’d plan to cut the frame cut on a water jet. At least when I do start building Chopper someday, I’ll have files ready to go!

 

[Halliwax]

Sweet mother of god..

 

[Studio 49]

Sweet mother of god..

Thanks mate! I thought you might like that update haha

 

[Frogfreak]

Holy sweat! This is AWESOME!!!

 

[Studio 49]

Holy sweat! This is AWESOME!!!

Thanks man!

 

[Frenzy1971]

Great work man!

 

[colinjreed]

That looks great! I didn’t know I needed to see a real chopper, but now I do!