Today a 3D project, tomorrow a bronze?

[nateowens]

Models, Prototypes and Bronzes

Actually a bronze is a bit spendy, but a few years ago I had a "rapid prototype" zcorp procress figurine made from a model I made in Hexagon. I sent that to another service bureau who cast some resin figurines that came out pretty nice, even had a bronzy coloration...

I still do not like colored figurines, they look like bobble head dolls to me, and while my "Ranger" is still a caricature of sorts, I think he would work as a bronze replica. I have dabbled in western painting (yes gallery stuff) and greeting cards for over 30 years and I still have the dream to do these... dudes, horses, etc.

I understand that the company who did the rapid prototype for me now has the ability to take the 3d model directly to resin castings... so, it's all a matter of $$ (what else is new?) I haven't heard of any prototype companies going directly to bronze, but that would still be a really expensive foundary operation, I suppose.

The Ranger as a bronze (dream) dude and hat modeled in Sculptris, base in Carrara, rendering in Carrara...



The Ranger as a bobble-head colored figurine. I could do real looking hair and moustache in Carrara, but didn't want to get into that.

[jim]

aww, the ranger really looks cool in bronze
if its all about the $$ you could just print it in plastic (farley inexpensive) and spraypaint it golden ;D

sure would be cool the see this one standing on your desk one day

[wikkidwidgets]

Shapeways.com offers a few Metal 3D printing options.

www.shapeways.com/materials/

I had a Blender Suzanne Monkey printed in Stainless steel. hehe

I know from the forums there that several dozen people have Molds 3D printed instead just the object. and a few have even used the base WSF material in the same way that Wax is used in Lost Wax Casting.

[edwardart]

Anyone know of a similar service in the UK?

[wikkidwidgets]

Shapeways is international. I live in Oregon, they are in the Netherlands. I've ordered hundreds of dollars of goodies from them.

[nateowens]

@ W. Widgets... thanks, i've bookmarked Shapeways for further investigation. Cool Beanz!!
Oregon!!! Lived in Eugene and Bend... Sisters has to be the coolest place on the planet. I'd go back in a heartbeat if possible. McKenzie Pass, the view East of Sisters from the Redmond highway... don't get me going ....

@ Jim... My plan would be to market these in some sort of quantities, if I do it. Hand painting them would not be a viable prospect, but thanks for the suggestion. The one I had make int resin castings was a bronze patina done in their casting process.

[polyhertz]

If your looking to make prints of your work and sell them, you might find this thread useful:

www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61205

Guy has his own milling machine and creates jewelry to sell using Modo, ZBrush, and a few other apps.

[DrPetter]

If you can get a print in some conductive metal, perhaps it will be possible to add a genuine bronze finish using en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroplating ?

[wikkidwidgets]

A cheesy approach would be to just make it conductive. Caswell sells a Conductive paint that is supposed to make almost any surface conductive.

www.caswellplating.com/kits/cupwdr.htm

[fragme]

I just spent 4hrs reading that zbrush thread and have the mother of all migraines for my effort
what can i say that guy saw something and made it an integral part of his business
although i did notice a (in jewelery terms) a fair bit of detail loss i wonder if this is due to poly reduction or the usage of wax and the burnout process leaving (im assuming) a residue deposit in the mould used for casting.
truly fascinating work though.