Hey all... I was hanging out at my Local computer store and I was approached/Called about making my 3D models/Pictures into sculptures and Etchings...This certain person has a 3D machine and he wants to take a few Pictures and Carve out my PC's Cover with one of my pics and he also wants to try and make Sculptures,He said that he has made a complete model of Mount Hood from Dems,Now Before I go and let him take some of my stuff I am going over to his house and see his creations...Thank goodness he lives in the same town... Now the reason why I am posting this I am thinking of going into Buisness with him on the 3D end of things getting artists to want to do this for themselves and Family...I will streessss that we will have to keep it low cost for us ARTISTS but we would still need to make a profit...DUH thats why it is called Buisness... We have not set Prices yet or even really set down and talked just chit chatted really but he seems so gung ho about it it really makes me think there might be a possibility this will work...Also I will be uploading pictures in the future so folks will be able to see his work... So what do you all think? And I wonder if I would be able to offer services to Renderosity just like if we had a Product for Sale?...AS can you check on that for me?

Brian, this sounds very interesting and exiting. Please keep us informed how it's being going on. J.

so your telling me that he could take a model from bryce or wings or any other program, and make it into a real 'sculpture'? thats sweet, id defanitley pay for something like that (if its a reasonable price)

I've seen the Promos for this procedure, I'll try to locate where. It's really cool. Not sure of the cost & value of the finished product though.

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Attached Link: http://www.3darttopart.com/index.php

THAT'S what iI call COOL!

Excellent! Kind of like the reverse of what is done for movies where the sculpture is made first and then digitized. Congrats.

Boomer:there is an article in those archives for that as well.

So cool!

Attached Link: http://www.protoshape.com/

If you want to research them a little more, they are called 3D printers. They can be monochrome and/or color and they're speed is rated in layers per minute. Layer thickness is adjusted, between 0.003 and 0.010 for a particular machine, to affect resolution and speed. They are especially usefull for doing small intricate parts for investment, lost wax, casting. Scott

This is most interesting, do keep us posted. 8)

This has got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen! Definitely something to keep in mind.

This is most cool but I wonder what the cost is for such a printer and can it be comfortably used in the home? Once you have the "master model" you can go ahead and make molds than you can mass produce all kinds of interesting figurines for decorative purposes and gifts.

I Myself cant wait to see the operation and to what scale this will lead to buisness wise...AND Folks I will keep it as cheap as Possible so where he makes all of the money,Mostly I will be Fine tuneing the meshes for use in the Machine...I want to learn the software too... I will be able to tell you all more tomorrow when he stops by my work and we will chat...I think he will like the idea of all the attention this is generating...

Attached Link: http://www.zcorp.com/products/demo.asp?ID=1

Yep...That is what I am talking about I saw a Range from $40.00 to $80.00 per Sculpture and of course there would have to be shipping and handling and also Insurance... Like I said I will be talking to him Tommorrow and once I fine tune everything with Him I will be letting you all know when and where...I will be setting up a website for him soon...(Dont look at mine I just slammed that up and havent updated it in a long time)I especially want several Dragon poses and I also want to Sketch out the side of my PC CASE with a Detailed 3D scene involving Dragons and such then I can Neon back lite it and it would be super sic like thoes Gamming boxes called "Frag Boxes" Well I am sure this is going to be a very nice thing to have available foe you as well as me....I personally cant wait...

foe = for

Cool beans..keep us updated. Sounds even better now.

Wow, this is awesome, I just need to learn how to model ;-0

Aye, I first read about Rapid Prototyping in 3D Artist magazine, two or three years ago. Seems a lot more people are in on it, these days! I'm working on a new amulet, straight from Rhino to steel, should be a blast... When the 3dm file is done, it's off to shop for the cheapest prices! Will keep you in mind, Foleypro!

Stereolithography. (Computer 3D to real world 3D) Yeah, this possibility is amazing. I was able to see a few machines doing this first-hand at Siggraph 2003. Watching them carve out a real world three-dimensional figure from a wireframe feels fairly star-trekish. First place I saw this was possible was on the Rustboy website, Brian Taylor had a company flesh out Rustboy. The company then sent it back to him like a plastic model to put together, it was expensive (at the time) (http://www.rustboy.com/other/maquette2.jpg) Brian has loacted a different company that will now do this process for about $60 (http://www.3darttopart.com/index.php) I'll check on/ask about the viability of advertising this process at Renderosity, foleypro. AgentSmith

Well That was what I was going to do,Was offer this service thru me and my Friend...Maybe something can be worked out...I should have just kept quite until I had the Website up and running...Oh well my mistake...Anyways we will be uploading Photo's of his Machine and the work he can do with the Machine...I will be going over to his house this coming weekend...He is going to use one of my up and coming pictures to do my Case side...I am also working on a mesh so he can use it to sculpt...Well I will keep ya all posted...

Okay, I dug around a bit, and it turned out needless! My best friend and multi-time business partner happens to work at QPM Aerospace, of course around Boeing-country it's easy to find aerospace mills. They use a machine a bit different from a prototyper OR lithographer, it's a huge steel device. It is used to create airplane parts from, guess what? Autocad! That means Rhino, to me.... It's quite absurd to watch, all laser measurers and ridiculous torches and cutters... I haven't tried it on anything, but I'm getting ready to prep a few pieces and give it a whirl. Steel only...

Yes My friend can do any type of material he says...He doesnt use the Powder and Biner fluid he uses Metal,Aluminum,Wood,Plastics ect...He says the process is a little different from what is shown above but similar,He says he can do sculptures and Etches...Depends on what is wanted...Yes he said Rhino is the main Program that he uses for the Machine...Awesome...

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