Robert_Ripley opened this issue on Sep 13, 2014 · 46 posts
AmbientShade posted Sun, 14 September 2014 at 1:12 AM
The modifications that a Poser figure needs in order to make it 3D print friendly remove all of its functionality as a poser model. Eyes and mouths have to be sealed and lashes, nails, anything that isn't attached and the wall thickness defined or the model will fall apart or just not print at all. Most models are decimated to the point that there is no recognition of the original geometry left anyway.
I ran across a blog a while back of an artist using V4 and zbrush along with shapeways to create her own ball jointed doll. I don't remember how close to the completed project she got but I think she had some body parts printed by the point I was reading it, iirc, sometime in 2012.
The makerbot is only about $2800, which isn't all that expensive, so a lot of people have their own makerbots these days and don't need to upload their models to a printing site unless they're wanting to print in metals and other finer materials. I'm hoping to get one sometime next year as finances allow, but I'm still researching them as I've heard there are even better printers for around the same price.
ETA: The makerbot can print in 2 colors but you don't see that very often yet. There's another printer that does (or is developing) 4 color, I just can't remember the name of that printer. Something with an A i think.