acereplicas
Member
Like many of you I love Portal, so I decided to post pictures of the Portal Radio I am working on. The key word is "working". 
I have made a couple before, but nothing like this one.
I am trying a whole bunch of new things with this radio so bear with me, I am working out of my element on this one.
Pardon my lack of in-between pictures, I am forgetful when it comes to taking pictures.
It all starts with a design.
This was designed with Google Sketchup in case any one wanted to know.
This is my first time going to a 3D printer. Cheating? You decide.
The results were actually pretty amazing! I am overjoyed with having something on a computer become reality. I can not wrap my mind around the idea that this was PRINTED!
Mock Assembly.
Snug as a bug.
Sanding.
Light sanding to remove the grit of the printed material.
Cutting the Faceplate backing.
This is the clear piece behind the Faceplate that illuminates.
Perfect!
Just as it looked on the computer. Still amazed.
Mold making!
This is my least favorite part in the process because I can never make a good mold. For this I used Brush-able Silicone. It uses far less than block molding, but requires a mother mold. It goes on like icing after you put the "print coat". Id be happy to answer any questions about the process.
2/2/2013
This is where I am now. I have just finished the mother molds for the base and faceplate, should have pictures up soon. I am getting mixed results with the casts so far, going to try some tweaking. I am still layering the radio body. I am going to make it considerably thicker than the other two molds.
As always, open to comments and questions.
I have made a couple before, but nothing like this one.I am trying a whole bunch of new things with this radio so bear with me, I am working out of my element on this one.
Pardon my lack of in-between pictures, I am forgetful when it comes to taking pictures.
It all starts with a design.
This was designed with Google Sketchup in case any one wanted to know.
This is my first time going to a 3D printer. Cheating? You decide.
The results were actually pretty amazing! I am overjoyed with having something on a computer become reality. I can not wrap my mind around the idea that this was PRINTED!
Mock Assembly.
Snug as a bug.
Sanding.
Light sanding to remove the grit of the printed material.
Cutting the Faceplate backing.
This is the clear piece behind the Faceplate that illuminates.
Perfect!
Just as it looked on the computer. Still amazed.
Mold making!
This is my least favorite part in the process because I can never make a good mold. For this I used Brush-able Silicone. It uses far less than block molding, but requires a mother mold. It goes on like icing after you put the "print coat". Id be happy to answer any questions about the process.
2/2/2013
This is where I am now. I have just finished the mother molds for the base and faceplate, should have pictures up soon. I am getting mixed results with the casts so far, going to try some tweaking. I am still layering the radio body. I am going to make it considerably thicker than the other two molds.
As always, open to comments and questions.
