I remember seeing ads for a machine that would allow virtual 3D objects into physical 3D sculptures by using a photo-sensitive liquid or lazer cutting device. But now I can't remember where on earth I saw it, and my web-search is coming up empty. Anyone out there have any ideas? I want to do something unique for Christmas, and this seemed ideal.

I saw that, years ago on a UK TV show, "Tomorrow's World" It used a laser which hardened some kind of (as you said) photo-sensitive resin. I have no idea where you might find one, unfortunately.

Attached Link: http://perrierstudio.iinet.net.au/IDM/

*"Making virtual 3D object real? How to turn Digital to Physical?"* We wish. Have you really *looked* in the galleries? I want to do something unique for Christmas too. *C'mere Vicki, I have an idea or two.* Seriously though, I hope these help. http://www.oldhamrobinson.com/type3.htm http://www.multicam.com/main/3d_scanner/

Attached Link: http://www.calmont.com/RapidProto.htm

Its called Rapid Prototyping. There are a number of manufactures that offer this service. They range from mass producing to custom one offs. A Google search gives many good results. The one above is one from the top of the list.

I was fortunate enough to see one of those 3D printers in action. They are really cool. There are some places that can create the models for you. Some can even do color instead of the ivory default color. (I don't know how exact the coloring is.) You'll need to find out things like what type of file format they need to create the print, how to proof the object to make sure there's no hidden holes in the mesh, etc.

not cheap...I inquired at one of them, thought I'd turn a few characters into models for my desk...my jaw dropped a bit.

A young lady in our village as a high school senior for her senior project presented a set of table legs, which were designed in a 3D Modeling program. She created the machine which was used to carve out these very intricately designed table legs and at the time I seen that it would be able to create almost any model that a person could conceive. Surely, a model as simple as Vickie could be done very easily. I have been looking at a 4'x8' table and cutter that is used to cut out patterns from a material to a depth of 3 inches, (turn the material over and another 3 inches can be cut). These patterns can also be any imaginable virtual model within reason. I dont believe that either machine would be able to do a backward cut. Just food for thought.

Thanks for the replies! I was searching with terms like "3D sculpture" "resin" and "lazer", and became lost in the plethora of OTHER subjects related to these terms. I knew someone would have the key term! Thanks again. This project is gonna hurt the pocketbook, but will sure make the heart happy.

ToyBuilders.com

This company accepts Poser models.

A few years ago. Some guy who owned a toy company in Japan asked If it would be OK to use one of my models to test their new 3D printer. I said sure and sent him a high res. version but I never heard back from the guy. Somewhere across the sea. One of my creations may be sitting on someones desk. :-) ScottA

One of your dinos, perhaps? It's important to note that the mesh to be fabricated should be as high-poly as possible, since the real world doesn't have Poser's smoothing algorithms. :)

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

PhilC is right when he calls it Rapid Prototyping ;o) Here, were I work, we have a number of Rapid Prototyping machines. There are a number of different types that can use different materials and processes. One we have just purchased can make 3D objects from corn starch (yes, it is food grade!); the benefit of which is material cost, as it is a damn site cheaper than using wax or resin...it can also help out when you are hungry as well LOL! The problem with Rapid Prototyping, is the cost. Even though materials, such as corn starch are cheap (although Wax and Resin models can run into $100's per cubic inch), the machines are not, so overheads are high. The link is to one of the machine manufacturers that we use: http://www.zcorp.com/ Cheers

Actually, one of our very own members (JesterCGI) looked to have a very promising endeavor going. He has a site called 3dtolife.com that sells this service.

I haven't talked to him in quite some time, but sometime last year I was very interested in teaming up with him to help me create fully-3D holographic images from Poser figures/scenes.

He was just getting started with it then and I had other avenues to accomplish this (but am still very much interested in it), but he may be running "full-steam" by now. However, I really do not know. He sells some fantastic models here on R'Osity, so maybe he'll see this and care to comment.

But if you're really serious about it, definitely contact him ... he is really nice and honest guy.

-Tim (Founding Member of "The 12 Animators")

this is all quite annoying, i have got my plans on doing this as part of a bussiness and now i see that so many others are doing it, well heres hoping there is room in the market by the time i have the money to do the projects

Wow! I just checked out these sites and they all look very interesting. Expensive though. Had anyone here ever had a model created? I'd like to have some of my Mike figures done, but I'm wondering what level of detail and color they come out with. It looks like the cost is between $100 to $300 for an 8" figure (or more). Before I spend that kind of money, I want to see something pretty detailed - perferably in person so I can eyeball it and touch it. If someone could come up with a machine like this for under a couple of thousand, I'd buy it. The paper lamination technique looks like wouldn't be too hard to mass produce. Read the file, cut the paper in layers, then laminate. A very patient person could even do it by hand just using a printer, a pair of scissors, and some glue. Is there any software (cheap) out there that would read an object file (.obj) and create .jpg files based on planes through the object? The .jpg files could be printed, cut out, and glued together to get a fairly close model. A little sanding and it'd look pretty good for a couple of reams of paper and some glue. Or you could print fewer .jpgs, and use them as templates for other materials (thin plastic or wood). Very interesting! I'm wonder if HP or Canon is doing anything like this.

"A very patient person could even do it by hand just using a printer, a pair of scissors, and some glue." You're joking, right? :D Looked at a ream of paper lately? 1000 sheets of 100 gram paper stands about 3" high, so for a figure 8" tall, you're looking at printing at approximately 3000 sheets, then there's the cutting and glueing involved. Bear in mind also that several pieces on one sheet wouldn't necessarily be attached to each other (finger tips etc), so you'd have one hell of a job. I for one wouldn't like to attempt it.

It would be virtually impossible, unless of course you were doing a box, or some other simple geometric shape. But there would be no point in that of course. The prices have actually dropped considerably. I realize that everyone has a different definition of "expensive", but people need to be reasonable and think about the technology and equipment involved when considering costs. By means of comparison, holograms actually cost many times this, yet we still have people call in wanting a fully-custom hologram and expect to pay $100. As if they were color photocopy technology or something. Weird. However, unlike holography, I'm sure pricing for this technology will continue to drop. -Tim

actually you can build a hologram production studio for less than 100 and prints for less than 5 dollars and i also know of a way to build a RPT setup for less than 4000 and production run at about 50-80 per model but i am not telling, these are the things i have been researching for a few years now in preperation, if others figure out how i would do it go for it but these are my secrects for the time being

"you can build a hologram production studio for less than 100 and prints for less than 5 dollars I've been in the holography industry for over ten years now and, a member of the IHMA, and have worked with every kind of holography known to man. You can not build a "production studio" for less than 100 dollars ... nor 1000, nor 10,000. A decent laser alone will cost you many times that amount. Yeah, you can make a hologram with a laser pointer and some cheapo Russian emulsion, but you're going to get what you pay for ... which isn't much. AKA Shoebox Holography. And other people certainly aren't going to pay you for the quality level one would be producing with such equipment. It's fine for fun and experimental stuff, but a far, far cry from a "production studio" and commercial quality. With that said, I'd LOVE to know exactly what you're talking about, and can;t wait for the "secret" to be revealed. Forgive me if I'm extremely skeptical ... I've been in this industry way too long to even begin to believe this is something revolutionary or even real. -Tim

Attached Link: http://www.microproto.com/micromill2000.htm

It can be done with a 4-axis milling machine. Heres a link http://www.microproto.com/micromill2000.htm I think this machine with the 4th axis add on would do the job. (You`d have to ask them for full details) Try searching for "micromill" or "taig". The 3d model has to be converted to milling machine paths (g-code, software is available to do this) which the computer sends to the motors of the milling machine, the cutters then move to carve the object out of foam/wood/metal etc. My other half has a 3 axis machine, which cost about $2000, unfortuantley it wont do full 3d figures or I`d be playing with it all the time! Hope this is helpful.

You might want to ask in the Rhino forum here, Rhino is sort of designed with that as one of its explicit purposes, and there are some very knowledgable folks over there -- not that there aren't here, too :-)

Being the other partner in Idova's scheme - and having been in the milling/routering industry for over 10 years with cutting-edge technology I have constantly been researching the means necessary to turn poser or bryce materials into real life models using various methods. The technology exists and is commercially available, if you have the funds and the time to invest in learning it and becoming expert enough. Primarily, to produce figures ranging in size from 25mm - 250mm (1" - 10") you need a rapid prototyper setup - for larger figures, you need a 4 or 5-axis router with the correct cutters and software drivers. One company in SoCal produces 5 axis routers that cut construction foam into 1:1 scale aircraft wing components for Boeing - so a device like that can produce full-size figures - as long as you know what you're doing. Have fun with brainstorming - it can produce incredible results.

oh mate why did you have to spill the beans :) i wanted to keep it a secrect until we were ready to produce.