3d Printing questions

[KelE]

After a few years doing traditional sculpting I am going back to digital sculpting (which I did for a while until I felt I should refine my skills the old fashioned way).
What I am deliberating now is to digitally sculpt some portrait heads, then have them printed out in 1/6th or 1/4th scale, and (assuming they aren't sharp enough in detail when printed--need more research into this) clean them up the old fashioned way, then make a regular mold and cast them. So digital combined with traditional.
The last research I did on printing suggests that the final printed head may be a little "milky" in detail and require refinement.
My question is, any suggestions on printing services and what am I looking at in cost for 1/6th or 1/4th work?

It would just be a head I am looking at.
I assume I will not get a really sharp printing that matches a roma plastilina type sculpture and will need to make a mold and do a clay press to get a clay version which I can then detail and mold.

Hopefully this method will give me the best of both worlds--good symmetry, smooth surfaces, and fine detail.

Sound feasible for the hobbyist with today's technology?
Any tips?

Thanks in advance.

[Zeiram]

You may be surprised at the quality you can achieve with 3D printing. SLA printers (resin-based) have come down a great deal in price with the Anycubic Photon around $600 and the Peopoly Moai at $1200. Both can achieve amazing detail that requires little/no finishing. FDM (filament-based) printers are much cheaper, but print at much lower resolutions and probably require the kind of molding and resculpt approach you suggest. Good luck!

[beaveren]

I will try and post a couple of photos later today of the detail that I have gotten using my Form2 SLA printer.

B

[Zeiram]

I will try and post a couple of photos later today of the detail that I have gotten using my Form2 SLA printer.

I think there are some nice shots of your Elektra in this thread: http://theclubhouse1.net/phpBB3/viewtop ... 9&t=117635

- larry

[KelE]

Wow! What is the scale of that Hulk?
Really sharp and smooth. The eyelids look sharp which is what I was interested in checking. Did you refine that by hand or was that after the printing was done?

And you say that is the filament method?
So the more expensive printers are even cleaner?

Wow.

[pzcreations]

I have the Anycubic Photon and the details are pretty amazing . heres one print sample...all I did post print was spray it with a coat of filler primer and some light sanding ...no print lines

[KelE]

So there's no issues associated with scale?
Being able to make an item in different scales is one of the main reasons to just do it digital.

I think I would try a printing service before I bought one for myself though!

[pzcreations]

Ive printed files in different scales, have seen in issues with it yet

[KelE]

I saw a demo years ago where they did prints of an elephant model in different scales (right down to the size of a penny). They models looked identical-not even a sort of "dwarf" appearance you might expect with downscaling.

Its amazing to think the technology in Darkman became real.
I remember seeing that photo--to mask process and thought--this is so far-fetched.

[Zeiram]

It really depends on the mesh density that the piece was sculpted at, but I've blown models up as much as 5000% and gotten great results still.

[KelE]

I was sold on the Hulk sculpture from here due to the sharpness of the teeth and eyelids.
http://theclubhouse1.net/phpBB3/viewtop ... k#p1395509

I can't see what the scale of it is though.

[Zeiram]

I was sold on the Hulk sculpture from here due to the sharpness of the teeth and eyelids.
http://theclubhouse1.net/phpBB3/viewtop ... k#p1395509

I can't see what the scale of it is though.

The metal plate the bust is attached to in the second photo is the Form 2 build plate, which measures 145x145 mm if that helps you gage its size.

[KelE]

Thanks! Yeah that's a decent size.
I'll have to watch a video of one of these things being made. Find it amazing a computer thingamajig can make something out of solid material.

The T-1000 is a future descendant of that technology!

[fmargem]

I'd say the Anyycubic would be my first choice of printer for small stuff due to quality x price. But as you've said you'd make molds and reesculpt the details, check this PLA print:















The first 3 pics are how the model came from the print shop. I though the guy had used a bit too much primer on it... and the other pics are from the paint jobe I've done on the print. The only fixing I've done to the sculpture was the eye region. As I said, too much primer.

I don't know the brand of his printer, but this is a U$200,00 printer....that prints out in a material that costs almost nothing. UV cured resin costs U$50,00 for 500 ml... And Adam Beam was producing a filament made of wax!

In my case, as a producer, I'd buy a UV resin printer. But if I was a traditional sculptor trying to mix both medias, I'd go with a deposition printer. It also has the advantage of a much bigger build plate.

BTW, that print has cost me U$15,00. It's in 1/5th scale.
Just my 2 cents.

[Zeiram]

I actually like having both an FDM and SLA printer in my workshop. I use the FDM for large pieces, or pieces I just want to bang out quickly or where surface finish isn't so critical. The SLA has a clear advantage in resolution and surface quality, but has a limited build area and the material costs are much higher. I end up using both when making parts for my sculpts.