This project is one of our responses to the 'Curriculum for Excellence' initiative.
3D printing is a high-tech CAD/CAM process, used by manufacturers for rapid prototyping and mould production. It has also been adopted by artists. The process combines laser and inkjet technology to bind powdered metal or plastic together in 3D space.
We're trying the process out on designs produced by S2 pupils this session. The 3D models are being created in Pro/Engineer, then uploaded to www.shapeways.com - 3D printing service.
ZCorp video - (on YouTube). ZCorp manufactures 3D printers.
Another ZCorp video - (on YouTube). ZCorp manufactures 3D printers.
BMW video - (on YouTube). BMW's F1 race development team uses 3D printing.
Pro/ENGINEER Resources - Our own page of resources, including the tutorials used in class.
Our first batch of 3D printing from www.shapeways.com.
Key rings and jewellery findings have been added where needed.
Leather thong has been added to the pendant.
The orange and blue examples started off as white plastic and then dipped in dye at Shapeways.
Shapeways charges $5 per unit for the dye, so we'll probably investigate doing this ourselves in due course.
The jewellery 'findings' were purchased from The Bead Shop in Stockbridge, Edinburgh
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The layers of material laid down by the 3D printer are clearly visible in this photo.
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We'd have posted more photos of the ear rings being worn, but the rain came down immediately after this one was taken.
Our next batch of work from Shapeways will include the two bangle designs featured here.
Modelled and rendered in Pro/Engineer.
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We'll probably get the bangles printed in the transparent material.
This rendering is a bit closer to how it may actually look.
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Modelled and rendered in Pro/Engineer
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This key fob 3D CAD model was produced while gearing up to trial 3D modelling and printing with our S2 classes.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this key fob.
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The fob assembled with a key and a ring.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this key fob.
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This sketch was produced in Serif PagePlus then taken in to Pro/Engineer and used as a reference image.
The dark grey wash on the image makes it easier to see the lines being drawn in Pro/Engineer.
As an alternative, the original pencil sketch could have been scanned and taken in to Pro/Engineer.
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A relief model of Homer Simpson.
We expect that pupils will wish to create a range of objects with different functions: badges; key fobs; ear rings; pendants; bangles; fridge magnets.
www.shapeways.com - Homer is featured on this page at Shapeways.
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The dark grey wash on the image makes it easier to see the lines being drawn in Pro/Engineer.
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This simple design will cost around $6.00 to have a pair 3D printed in white plastic.
www.shapeways.com - the ear ring is featured on this page at Shapeways.
Materials at Shapeways - some of the materials that are available.
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This simple design will cost around $6.00 to have a pair 3D printed in white plastic.
www.shapeways.com - the ear ring is featured on this page at Shapeways.
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Another key fob assembled with a key and a ring.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this key fob.
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At around 80mm long, this bug / snake model is perhaps a bit big to be a badge. The cost of manufacture is around $13.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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Another view.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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Another view.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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View from above.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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The pendant features a tribal design and is strung with a leather thong, 2mm thick.
The thong was modelled in Blender and the scene was also rendered in Blender.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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The model in a black material.
www.shapeways.com - the page featuring this model.
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A reference image of a tattoo on an upper arm was taken in to Pro/Engineer and traced. The dark wash over the photo makes it easier to see lines drawn on top in Pro/E.
'Tribal Tattoo' is a very good search term to try in Google. Another good one for traditional designs is 'Zoomorphic Celtic Designs', which delivers celtic knotwork based on animal shapes.
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This design was created using Pro/Engineer's 'revolve' tool. To keep the production price down it is hollow right through.
www.shapeways.com - the ear ring is featured on this page at Shapeways.
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This design was created using Pro/Engineer's 'revolve' tool. The 'pattern' tool (sometimes called an 'array') was used to create the ring of holes through the model.
www.shapeways.com - the ear ring is featured on this page at Shapeways.
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This stunning 3D CAD rendering, created in Maya, is a sculpture competition entry for St George's Cathedral, Perth, Australia.
The artist, Gil Bruvel, creates 3D CAD models of his proposals for customers to check out. He also used 3D printing to make scale models of his work. He uses a company called ProMetal for the 3D printing.
Gil Bruvel's site - wonderful work.
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This image shows how the sculpture will sit, just outside the cathedral. The dragon breaks out of the ground.
Gil Bruvel's site - wonderful work.
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Gil is featuring this wonderful table in the 'functional art' section of his web site.
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Bathsheba Grossman has designed a series of 3D 'knots' and had them 3D printed in a bronze / steel alloy.
Bathsheba Grossman's site - amazing 3D knots.
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Another gorgeous object.
Bathsheba Grossman's site - amazing 3D knots.
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