Exercise# 2
3D Scans, Modeling, & Printing
My intention for this exercise was to become familiar with the 3D printing pipeline, from conception through the final print. because of this, I went with a design that wasn’t overthought. At the same time I wanted to make something that I would enjoy having in my studio to look at from time to time. I began imagining an anthropomorphic figure that illustrated my own sensibilities.
These are the models I found for my assemblage. Along with my bust that was scanned in the fab lab with the iSense scanner, I found a triceratops skull and a Marshall speaker cabinet on Thingiverse.com. To me speaker cabinets are bodily forms with powerful, ritualistic presence. Dinosaur skulls are eternally cool.
After some simple cleanup in Meshmixer, I began assembling the individual objects in the software. I have enjoyed approaching the 3D scanning/modeling process as a form of assemblage sculpting.
With the sculpting brushes I decided to give the form legs. This was not only to satisfy the modification requirement of the assignment, but to make it feel like one living being, not just an assembled bunch of objects. I further tweaked the cabinet body to further the idea of this object being biomorphic.
When I was satisfied with the design, I converted the sculpture into one solid object and exported it as an .stl file.
I imported the .stl file into Simplify3D to print my final object. A few things had to be done before I executed the print.
First I had to resize the object to a reasonable size. If the model was too large, it would take forever to print and use a lot of material for a noncommittal print.
Then I had to make sure the object was supported in the print. Simplify 3D generated supports, but I went in and added much more to support the dynamic form of the triceratops skull.
Below is the imported file and the rescaled model with added support structure.
Finally it was time to print!
It’s exciting watching this build layer by later. At the same time it feels like watching paint dry…
And here it is, my final object in its natural state.
I am impressed with the detail that the printer was able to produce at this scale. At some point I would like to smooth it out and give it a nice, finished surface.
With 3D printing, at this stage, it feels like I am just making toys to a degree. I am interested in utilizing the 3D printing process to support larger sculptural endeavors.
