CNC for 3D Sculpture

[st45]

Hello. I'm a 3D artist (modeler/animator). I've been taken by the idea of turning my models (mostly fantastic creatures) into miniature figurine sculpures that I could then cast. I would also like to carve reliefs of my models as architectural accents, and as art pieces. I've been considering building a 3-Axis router for this purpose.

Unfortunately, my wife feels thinks it won't work, and that it will be just a waste of money.

Does anyone have any experience in this arena? Is there anyone who would be willing to try machining one of my models out of wax, plastic, resin or foam?

Here is the model I am working on as a test run.
http://cleancg.com/forums/index.php?topic=93.0

Also, is there much demand in the CNC community for artistic 3d modelers or is it all industrial application?

[InspirationTool]

A 3 axis router won't make complex figures like your (nice!) minotaur, and even a 4 axis will have trouble with the more slender parts.

You can do this easily with rapid prototyping methods such as 3D plastic printing or stereolithography. New machines are pretty expensive, but I've seen used ones on Ebay for several thousand.

I'd consider finding a rapid prototyping company to make you a model. I bet you could get a 6" minotaur for a couple hundred bucks.

There is a demand for artistic 3D. I've seen it used mostly in architecture, entertainment, and singage.

-Jeff

[Switcher]

Look at this link, Whiteriver did this with only 4-axis. This guy is good!


http://www.cnczone.com/gallery/showp...00/ppuser/1498

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[turmite]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool I'd consider finding a rapid prototyping company to make you a model. I bet you could get a 6" minotaur for a couple hundred bucks.Jeff

If he can, he better jump on it. I'm not a betting man, but I would nearly bet you he couldn't get close to that for cnc carving? I just know how long it takes to carve something a lot more simple than that plus to get all the detail it will have to be machined with two or three bits and the speeds won't be very high.

Mike

[st45]

I was thinking of carving it in parts. (arms, legs torso, head) But it will actually be much more complex than this because the figure is not posed yet. Eventually it will be carying a shield and some kind of sword.

Maybe I'm asking too much from subtractive methods.

I don't have the cash for a additive prototyping machine.

I've asked a few people, and they all say that the machining time required is too long and that it would cost me > $1000 to machine it.

I've been thinking that if I had a homebuilt router I could set it to work without incurring so much cost. Could such a macine even carve with enough detail for a 4" - 6" figure?

I'd thought I could machine this thing out of high density foam and then use a lost foam process to cast a master. Then I'd make silicon molds from that. Then I could cast it out of resin.

My thinking is that I want to make hundreds of different kinds of creatures and sell them as a kind of collector set.

[InspirationTool]

Originally Posted by turmite If he can, he better jump on it. I'm not a betting man, but I would nearly bet you he couldn't get close to that for cnc carving? I just know how long it takes to carve something a lot more simple than that plus to get all the detail it will have to be machined with two or three bits and the speeds won't be very high. Mike

Mike, I was talking about an additive method, not a subtractive one. Google "stereolithography" to see what I mean.

ST45, There are companies out there that are rapid prototyping job shops. Just send them a copy of your model to get an estimate.

Unless you *want* to make them yourself, you may find you can have quite alot of them made for what you would pay for a machine to do it yourself.

-Jeff

[st45]

Thanks for the advice.

What I'm hearing you say is that a home-built cnc router isn't practical for my application--but if I'm obsessed with playing with a machine, I can knock myself out.

That's good to know.

You guys are great!

[Switcher]

st45,

I think you would be better off, building a very small cnc (4-axis) If all you will be cutting is foam.






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[chop5280]

I have cut some really detailed stuff on a five axis cnc mikron mill but still not sure if this would be possible. I envy the man that would be able to program that! Good Luck!

[WayneHill]

Originally Posted by chop5280 I have cut some really detailed stuff on a five axis cnc mikron mill but still not sure if this would be possible. I envy the man that would be able to program that! Good Luck!

One way to program it is, use a stereo lithography program to cut the model into slices. Each slice profile is sent to a routine to write the code for rotational and Z profiles. Easy!! Got other projects I'm working on right now! I will add this to my list to investigate.

[diarmaid]

Originally Posted by InspirationTool ...Google "stereolithography" to see what I mean. -Jeff

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/stereolith.htm

"Stereolithography, also known as 3-D layering or 3-D printing, allows you to create solid, plastic, three-dimensional (3-D) objects from CAD drawings in a matter of hours. Whether you are a mechanical engineer wanting to verify the fit of a part or an inventor looking to create a plastic prototype of an invention, stereolithography gives you a fast, easy way to turn CAD drawings into real objects."

"Stereolithography is not an inexpensive process. The machines themselves usually cost in excess of $250,000. They have to be vented because of fumes created by the polymer and the solvents. The polymer itself is extremely expensive. CibaTool SL5170 resin, a common photopolymer used in stereolithography, typically costs about $800/gallon. For these reasons, it is uncommon to find stereolithography machines anywhere but in large companies."

http://www.quickparts.com/quickquote/adduser.asp

"With our QuickQuote process, product designers can get instant price quotes and buy custom parts online 24x7."

[Chris64]

I agree with the rapid prototyping. You can find a company who has a 3d-printer and they can make a high res 3-d object (even in color) straight from a 3d object file.

Here's an example: http://www.emco.co.uk/rapid.htm

The finsihed object can handle finishing pretty well (sanding/painting). Or you could have them print and inverted image and cast an object from that (low temp materials). I have seen these on ebay for a few $K. For what you want to do this makes the most sense. A 6 inch character would take this machine about 2-4 hours so I would assume about $400-$800.