3 D art work help

[Chefsparky]

I have had a Bot for about a year and am looking to expand the work it does. I have made lots of 3D items out of Styrofoam and a few simple signs.

What I am looking to do is make large 3D art. More specifically I want to make life like objects that are 3d from all angles, not just from the front. one project in mind is a dragon head to be displayed in lobby of convention.

Looking for place to find art work that is done or software that would be able to convert images into what I need.

I know I saw a guy who made a Terra cotta solider from a scanned image of smaller one. that is what I need to be able to do.

I have a PRSalfa 120x60 with spinal.

Mark H.

[coryatjohn]

Disclaimer: I haven't ever done a 3D job...

I think one solution to full size, real 3D art is to do it in slices and then assemble it. Using that approach, you can pretty much make any sized object. I believe Aspire has that capability.

Another method is to use an indexer.

[Chefsparky]

Thanks John for the reply.

The slicing part I do understand. what I need is help getting an image into Aspire and then being able to slice it in a way that would allow for assembly.

I know what I want to do can be done on the Shopbot, just not sure how to get what I want into Aspire. Still new to all the software.

Found an image on 123D site that looks good. Does anyone know how to get image from 123D into Aspire. It offers shopbot code, but it looks like it becomes like a 3d puzzle made of flat material. Also looking to make it larger than the image that it provides. it assumes a shopbot desktop.

[bob_reda]

Mark,

you will have to import the model into aspire in a format it reconiges, such as an stl or obj. When brought into aspire the first screen that pops up is a screen such as in the cut 3d program where you would put your variables in such as size, height and such. If you decide to slice it will come out in the pieces you selected. Say you have 2" foam and wanted to get it to be 8" overall you will get 4 pieces to machine.

Bob

[bleeth]

If 123d exports as stl then you can bring it into aspire.

Bill P did a dragon head some years ago as an ornament for a motorcycle. It was carved as 2 halves that were mirrored.

Some objects work this way. If you can picture it being made in a 2 part mold then it is fairly straightforward. A true 3-d object is much more difficult, if it is even possible.

[adrianm]

There's a Bull made with 123D slices on the projects page - http://shopbottools.com/mSupport/projects.htm

When it first came out I exported STL's into Aspire and did some double sided with it. Never really experimented with true 3D slicing though.

[Brady Watson]

Knowing where to slice is somewhat of an art that comes with experience, when you are talking about full 3D objects that need to be machine from multiple sides. For shops that make props, there is a certain amount of discretion that also comes with experience when it comes time to machine the part & just how much machining you want to do. All prop shops I have trained or consulted with focus on getting the model 80-90% 'there' & the rest is done by hand, since this saves them a considerable amount of time & fuss in programming. You get the model close, do some manual carving and fine detailing and then hard coat it, which may also include some detailing.

You'll need CAD that can handle full 3D parts and allow you to hack them apart, like removing an arm or the head from the torso etc. Then those components are brought into CAM and sliced on both sides and toolpathed in a program like Cut3D/PartWorks3D or Aspire.

-B

[Chefsparky]

thanks for all the reply's.

Have figured out how to get the image into aspire and do some manipulations. will take some work to set it up to be machined.

couple of questions. when you import a .stl file, Aspire puts you in an "Orientate 3D model" screen and you have the ability to slice model in one plane so you end up with two sides.

1: is there a way to cut in two opposite planes so you end up with four pieces that can then be sliced and manipulated?

2: can you get back to this screen once you have moved on. could not find this screen again once I hit "OK" and moved to he normal screens of Aspire.

Not sure if this makes sense or not. basically looking to get model into four sections that can then be sliced and set up for machining.

Do not know how to capture screen shots and attach to message.

[Joe Porter]

Mark, maybe you could get ahold of Jim McGrew on the Vectric forum. He has done just what you are talking about using Aspire and I believe the slicing technique and reasembling the model. These are lifesize Chess pieces. I think his handle is "Cabinets 636". joe

[Chefsparky]

Thanks Joe. I will look him up this weekend when I have some time to talk and work on the project.

Mark

[Brian Harnett]

For that stuff I get out the chainsaw its faster.:)

[gerryv]

Vectric Cut 3D will allow you to do 4-sided where Aspire won't, as I understand it.

[bleeth]

Hey Brian:
Been using a chain saw for years not only for cutting limbs off of trees, but also for shaping some big timbers for keel parts and frame planks, but your act with it beats all.