3-D Printing of Sheldon (5 comments)
3-D Printing of Sheldon
Monday, March 22, 2010 - 12:20 AM
At Emerald City Comicon, a really nice Sheldon reader named Matthew asked if he could do some 3-D printing of Sheldon characters, or Drive characters/ships.
Having worked at Mattel Toys, and fallen in love with their super-expensive 3-D printers waaaaaay in the back of the Mattel Design Center, I of course said "Yes!" ....3-D printing is awesome. (Not familiar with it? Here's a sped-up YouTube video to give you the basic idea.)
Anyway, to do a 3-D printing, Matthew needs a CAD-type file that could be "loaded into Blender or Sketchup", which, I'll be honest, I don't have. I just draws 'em, I don't have the skill to model 'em.
But! I know there are a few Sheldonistas out there who have started CAD files of Drive ships, or who have hand-sculpted Sheldon characters in the past. If the former would be willing to share their files, or the latter be willing to do a 3-D scan -- if they have access to one -- send 'em on to Matthew! Matthew notes that "simpler models print best."
Thanks!
Dave
Re: 3-D Printing of Sheldon (Score: 1)
posted Monday, March 22, 2010 - 06:14 AM (
#55428)
Here's a project I've been following for a few years. Open-source 3D printers!
http://reprap.org
I don't have much electronics experience, so I'm waiting for them to put together do-it-yourself kits for a couple-hundred bucks (they've talked about that a few times). The premise is freakin' awesome.
Re: 3-D Printing of Sheldon (Score: 1)
posted Monday, March 22, 2010 - 06:33 AM (
#55430)
I have a thread on this in the Webcomics subscribers forum, but my progress is slow. Right now I'm having a character modeled and the next step will be a 3D scan. They don't come cheap, at least $500 for the data alone, another $750 for someone to convert the "cloud of data points" into an actual model. Even then, there are printer-specific steps to take...
I'll let you know as I learn more.
BWG
Tephlon
Posts:
4
Registered:
Mar 2008
Re: 3-D Printing of Sheldon (Score: 1)
posted Monday, March 22, 2010 - 10:07 AM (
#55431)
This might interest you too:
http://www.shapeways.com/ [shapeways.com]
Set up by some Philips engineers. Pretty good prices too.
Re: 3-D Printing of Sheldon (Score: 1)
posted Monday, March 22, 2010 - 11:07 PM (
#55441)
In Response to dracolytch (#55428):
(I am the above mentioned Matthew)
I'm actually going to be printing these models on a Makerbot and perhaps a Reprap. I've got a makerbot and I'm printing parts for a Reprap as they are indeed awesome machines.
I've also got a friend with a few of the powder-based printers and if a sufficiently awesome model comes along I'll try to get it printed on one of those.
rcav8r
Posts:
2
Registered:
May 2007
Re: 3-D Printing of Sheldon (Score: 1)
posted Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 07:43 AM (
#55444)
I have access to a Zcorp powder type printer, so if someone has a STL type file, I could do it that way.
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