Has anybody here made props through 3D printing technology?

[Bossk]

There is amazing potential to have intricate props made through this process, and wonder if anybody here has already had success with a firm that does reliable work at reasonable prices. I think one problem is to get the complete, digital scans of the object made to send to the maker, unless there is way to do it with normal digital cameras. I am sure a lot of people here would like to learn some 'success stories' from fellow hobbyists who have already used this process to make props that would be too difficult or time consuming to sculpt themselves.

 

[8 perf]

Digital cameras do not have anything to do with it. An object printed with a 3D printer needs to be made from a 3d wire-frame model, or mesh. That file must be save in a format that the printer can recognize, such as STL, DAE, VRML 97, etc... A few companies out thre I have been dealing with (Shapeways, Ponoko) make it an easy process to do if you have the 3d file. Two free programs that can be used to make the 3d files are Blender and Sketchup. I prefer the latter since it is a lot easier to learn. I used it to "build" 10 bulkhead like structures for my scratchbuilt Eagle from "Space-1999."

 

[zenix]

well 8perf, that is no longer true. you can make 3d models from using a digital camera.

as far as 3d printing... i do it every week. i love shapeways =) they are great for small prints of things. I've made several props using their service, and a bunch using quickparts.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

well 8perf, that is no longer true. you can make 3d models from using a digital camera.

All you need are fixed reference points to show the 3D space and software to read it. It's the software that costs big money. But the detail richness is lesser than you get from laser or spectral light scanning, from what I understand.

as far as 3d printing... i do it every week. i love shapeways =) they are great for small prints of things. I've made several props using their service, and a bunch using quickparts.

Would love to see some of the parts you've made. Is there any cleanup required after the printing?

 

[Raza Crew]

Yes, what Garlic said.....this thread is useless without pics!

 

[Spartan375]

No need to create something when you can scan the original. But it cost ridiculously much to get a scanner.

Maybe there are companies that offer scanning services as well.

Depending on what printer you have, a clean up might be required or may not. In those with the powder it is required.

I dream about getting one, but 50.000€ for a cheap one is a no-no even if i won the lottery.

For another point of view, is not worth it compared to the fun of making yourself what you want.


Learning to use 3d design programs (i did) is a big trouble at first. Be aware.

 

[TheSt.LouisKid]

The master pattern for the center disc in my recent TOS Klingon insignias was done on a 3D printer.

Copies came out nice.

 

[T2SF]

I think I want a endo arm 3d printed.

Also I was thinking I'm going to check out some props soon where and when can I borrow a hand held laser scanner so i can get precise measurements I think Adam Savage brings that idea up with his Maltese Falcon quest.

 

[weaponx82]

I'm looking to be having some work done locally using a makerbot. MakerBot Industries - Robots That Make Things. It doesn't give really high resolution but it can be a cheap alternative to making smaller stuff as long as you're willing to do some clean up and have 3d files.

 

[exoray]

All you need are fixed reference points to show the 3D space and software to read it. It's the software that costs big money. But the detail richness is lesser than you get from laser or spectral light scanning, from what I understand.

Yeah a scan is better but it's amazing what can be done with software now... I was on a job a few years back and the customer was having custom high dollar counter tops fabricated... Generally from experience they come in with cardboard sheets and make on the spot templates, but not this time... The guy shows up with a sheet of 1" round sticker dots and a digital camera, sticks a dozen or so dots on all surfaces/walls and then snaps off a few photos, and that was that... He said their software automatically corrects perspective and lens distortion, measures and creates the whole 3d model all based off the 1" circular stickers he applied... He said the end fitment results were far superior to the traditional template methods....

Back on topic yes people have made props on 3D printers (me included) but be warned that it can be very costly one you venture outside the very small... And generally the finish leaves a little bit to be desired, but it does work... And with some quick surface clean up you can get a nice model...

 

[exoray]

I'm looking to be having some work done locally using a makerbot. MakerBot Industries - Robots That Make Things. It doesn't give really high resolution but it can be a cheap alternative to making smaller stuff as long as you're willing to do some clean up and have 3d files.

In truth it hardly gives any resolution, they have come a long way but they have light years to go to catch up to current tech...

You would be much better off exploring a company like Shapeways, they run the $100s of thousands of dollar machines that actually do make some pretty clean models... And they are hobbiest geared so prices are not out of the ballpark...

 

[nexnox]

We build props from SLA parts almost everday. In the industry, much of the concept art generated these days is in 3D. So we are able to manufacture a more accurate prop in a shorter timeframe. SLA is great.

check out, Same Day Rapid Prototyping | Fastest Rapid Prototypes I haven't used this service, but I have used the company that runs it. Called Solid Concepts, they are located in valencia, CA.

 

[Hacksaw44]

I found this site a few months back and look to be useful.

DAVID 3D Scanner

 

[Stormy320]

Yeah a scan is better but it's amazing what can be done with software now... I was on a job a few years back and the customer was having custom high dollar counter tops fabricated... Generally from experience they come in with cardboard sheets and make on the spot templates, but not this time... The guy shows up with a sheet of 1" round sticker dots and a digital camera, sticks a dozen or so dots on all surfaces/walls and then snaps off a few photos, and that was that... He said their software automatically corrects perspective and lens distortion, measures and creates the whole 3d model all based off the 1" circular stickers he applied... He said the end fitment results were far superior to the traditional template methods....

That's really cool.

Is there any reverse engineering software that can take a picture and try to turn it into 3D or a CAD drawing?

 

[zenix]

you can mail stuff and get it scanned, and mail files and get them printed.

there are a ton of things in my store ttbcad.com , and many of the things i offer that are 3d printed. makerbot stuff is cool cuz its portable and a desktop size, but its not so good for making props. you dont need to OWN the equipemnt to use it. jsut pay for time on it. companies like shapeways.com that print things for literally a few dollars and you dont need to do anything besides give them the file and the money

 

[Brucelee42]

Looking into that now my self. Spent the day at Solid Concepts here in Austin - they do most of the nylon (both regular and glass filled), carbon fibre (powedered of corse) and probably in the next month they will be doing stainless. (But make sure you get your wallets ready - machining is still much cheaper.)

I am trying to see if I can sneak parts in builds with out the rush - (the quick turn around is what you are paying for) for a cheaper price. It may make sense for doing kits. The company also makes silicon molds, but he said they are good for about 30 parts or so.

I have lots of 3D data bases that I want to get made, just saving up. Most I would prefer to get machined out of aluminum.

As far as finish, the glass filled nylon seems to come out the smoothest - and luckily its the cheapest material they do.

 

[exoray]

(But make sure you get your wallets ready - machining is still much cheaper.)

That really depends on the part, for small parts from say Shapeways you can't even get a machine shop to setup a 3 or 5 axis mill for the price they deliver the model to you for...

My last piece was a cover, $17 delivered from shapeways... It's 2.28" x 1.85" and stands about .68" in the middle of the bubble curved top, .09" thick sidewalls as it's a hollow cover... I would be hard pressed to find any shop that would deliver a machined one in single quantity to me for $17... BTW the picture below is a casting of said piece the, I don't currently have a picture of the original handy...

 

[exoray]

Is there any reverse engineering software that can take a picture and try to turn it into 3D or a CAD drawing?

I'm sure there is but I have no recommendations, you can see from a company like this (link stolen from an OT post here by another member) that it's being done...

ThatsMyFace - Custom Action Figures, Dolls & Masks from your Photos

Send in a photo or two and get a 3D model of of your head rapid prototyped in full color... Being a human head that has a "known" shape, I'm sure some shortcuts are taken in the 3D rendering but just the same it's being done...

 

[Too Much Garlic]

They are using the facegen software to make their physical prints. It is really low quality modeling and it's basically the paint application that creates the likeness. Do not waste money on this.

This is basically the quality of the basic model:

 

[UKscout]

I made a 3d model from scratch of the biker scout scout piece for the biker scout helmet.

3d the model in AutoCAD and converted the CAD file into a file format that the guy in the USA could print the file off using his 3D printer.

After I got the resin snout part I scrapped the project due to the snout part surface wasn't smooth, this was not due to the 3d model but how the 3d printing did my part. It left the snout detail with very fine groves in the surface and the 3d printer laid thin layers of resin on each other.

I'm sure the 3d printing has improve since I did this project in 2006