Has anyone here gotten their 3D models printed?

[monolith21]

I've been following a few prop threads over at the RPF and I'm blown away by what people are getting printed up. It got me thinking of all the great models I've seen over here and how I would LOVE to have actual physical models!

I would love to figure out how to prototype the Colonial Communicator and then send that thing off to get it printed up. As a prop collector, this technology amazes me.

https://www.shapeways.com/create

[gmd3d]

I have looked into this a little..

As far as I have found.. you need to be sure it in a usable format

A standard data interface between CAD software and the machines is the STL file format. An STL file approximates the shape of a part or assembly using triangular facets. Smaller facets produce a higher quality surface. PLY is a scanner generated input file format, and VRML (or WRL) files are often used as input for 3D printing technologies that are able to print in full color.

Also non planer surfaces cannot be read properly as far as I know.. polygons and triangles also to make it cheaper,, you make it hollow by adding an internal wall.


Colonial Communicator would be a simple enough model to work with.

[Rhaven Blaack]

Check out this website for BSG models in paper (cardstock): https://stevespaper.com
Here is the direct link to the BSG PROPS: https://stevespaper.com/?page_id=459
I have built a few myself.

ENJOY!!!

[GAIUS]

It is definitely the future, many great looking models being done out there with 3-D printing...

[Rhaven Blaack]

UPDATE:
You can now find ALL of the BSG (TOS) props (i.e. Colonial Blaster, Languatron, Legboard-Computron, Solinite Charges, Radiatron, Colonial Cubits, and Pyramid Card Game) here at https://stevespaper.com
Here is the direct link to the BSG PROPS: https://stevespaper.com/?page_id=459

ENJOY!!!

[Punisher454]

By the end of this year I plan to set up a 3D printer. (extruder type, like a Rep-Rap or makerbot) When that time comes I'll be printing some galactica models on it.
It would be best to re-model any BSG model with the printing process in mind. Some shapes are just not do-able. Sometimes you need to print extra little stands and supports that get cut-off later.

You will need to have a solid model before running it through the slicing program. CAD programs like solidworks work best for this, but Rhino can also be used. There are quite a few inexpensive cad programs, but I cant make any suggestions. I do have experience with Solidworks and a little bit of Inventor (went to school for solidworks).
I can say that if you are coming from a 3d art program you will probably feel like you stepped back in time when working with CAD programs (even the high end).

[ernie90125]

Has anyone here gotten their 3D models printed?

Let me reverse the question...why don't Universal take a 3D scan of the original filming model to make a CGI model?

Would that lead to hundreds of hours of CGI modelling being saved thereafter?

[xyzw12345]

I had some models printed once. One could argue they came out alright but really the physical object was nothing like the cgi one. It was a starfighter i had designed years ago and i tried to get it manifold and up to standard fro printing but bits broke off, and other parts peeled off. I tried it 3 times with an online service and it never came out quite right.

[Titon]

Long overdue response but i have 2 3d printers currently. One is an FDM printer from Raise3d and the other is a Form2 resin printer from Formlabs.

Both are excellant. Use them mostly for prototyping.

[Darrell Lawrence]

So... if you were to have, say... my Viper and Cobra models, you could convert them to the proper format and 3D print them?

[Titon]

Originally Posted by Darrell Lawrence

So... if you were to have, say... my Viper and Cobra models, you could convert them to the proper format and 3D print them?

Yes i could. 3d printing is definately a whole different animal when it comes to 3d work. In order for a model to print you have to have a fully closed model. You can't have open sections of polys when converting to and .stl file. So all the years we were taught to delete unseen poly's is a no no in 3d print world. Another thing 3d printers do not take smoothing into consideration when printing. If the model is printed with low polys and you really have 24 sides to it but it looks smooth because of "smoothing" turned on it will not print smooth. You will get 24 jagged sides. Sucks with all the stuff i have done over the years that would be neat to print and it would take a lot of reworking to make it print correctly.

Printed this upper wing few weeks ago off of my DeSanto Viper model. It was printed on my Form2 hi res printer.

[Darrell Lawrence]

Ok... you have now officially re-ignited a reason for me to open LW again and do some 3D work.

How big are the print outs?

[Titon]

Originally Posted by Darrell Lawrence

Ok... you have now officially re-ignited a reason for me to open LW again and do some 3D work.

How big are the print outs?

The form2 is a smaller bed but it's designed for .25 resolution. It can actually print teeth. It's super detailing that needs to be there especially when dealing with small scale details. Check out www.formlabs.com


My Raise is a FDM printer that extrudes the filament. That build platorm is 12x12x12. But if you split the model up you can get bigger prints just have to glue them together.

[Titon]

Check out this vid....i partnered with Nice N Models LLC to design and build the new T70 Xwing that was at this years Wondercon.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsE161MhMc

[Darrell Lawrence]

Originally Posted by Titon

Check out this vid....i partnered with Nice N Models LLC to design and build the new T70 Xwing that was at this years Wondercon.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsE161MhMc

You got name dropped Awesome.

[Titon]

Originally Posted by Darrell Lawrence

You got name dropped Awesome.

LOL...i better have after the insane hours making that thing functional!