Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP

Edymnion · 9th October 2013, 12:11 AM

My 3D printer of choice (the Buccaneer by Pirate 3D) is getting closer to launching, which means I should be getting my printer in the next several months (I hope!). So, time to start modelling something to actually print with it.

As usual, I've gone for my default testbed item, one I've been boarderline obsessed with since the 80's. The Sword of Omens from Thundercats. Only have the crossguards done so far (and I'm still tweaking them, just started it today), and as you can see from the pegs my goal will be to make these printable so they can be assembled into a finished physical replica. Since the print space is fairly limited (about a cubic foot), everything will need to be broken down into pieces like a resin kit.

Will probably take several test prints to figure out exactly what kind of limits this new medium has (may have to stick in some sprues for printing), but here's hoping I'll have a 1:1 replica hanging on my wall by end of next year!

foxa · 9th October 2013, 03:39 PM

Looks great so far, but I have to ask. How are you going to print the blade

Art

Edymnion · 10th October 2013, 08:19 PM

I'll model a slot inside the blade to house a flat metal rod for strength, print it out in 10-12" sections, slide it all together like a chain whip sword, glue it all down, and fill the gaps with epoxy like I was working a resin model kit.

Which is what this will basically end up being, a really big model kit.

foxa · 11th October 2013, 09:32 AM

Very creative use of available resources sir, I salute you.

Art

Edymnion · 21st October 2013, 05:14 PM

Whew, the hardest parts are now done.

Somebody remind me to obsess over a less ornate sword next time.

Edymnion · 23rd October 2013, 12:02 AM

Oh, and just for the record, thats not a texture on the Eye of Thundera. I carved the cat's head into the surface so that it will print as a recessed slot.

Edymnion · 23rd October 2013, 11:31 PM

Okay, almost finished with this one.

Exterior mesh just requires the filigree around the base of the pommel and everything will be done.

After that, its just a matter of continuing to break up the sword into printable size pieces. You can see I've already started that, but I still need to section up the blade and pull off the crossguards.

If you're sharp eyed, you may notice that I also have the slot for the steel bar in place as well.

Hoping to have everything completely finished and ready to go by the weekend. Then it'll only be... about 4 months before I get the printer. :P

Edymnion · 28th October 2013, 12:27 AM

So much for getting anything done over the weekend.

Computer problems. Got it up and running for the time being, but order has been placed for a new one (and I'm already drooling over the beast of a machine I've got coming in).

I might even have to find a good rendering software for this one once I get that bad boy in.

Edymnion · 30th October 2013, 01:54 PM

Well, since the board seems to have locked itself into only letting me attach a horrible resolution jpg (despite having deleted it off my HD entirely and uploaded a better png, the uploader keeps sticking the ugly jpg in there, even after restarting the browser), I'll use photobucket.

The image is a little jaggier than before because I'm on a new computer, and for some reason AC3D's anti aliasing is different. Must be a setting somewhere that I can't find, but it doesn't smooth things out nearly as well as my old computer did.

Edymnion · 21st January 2014, 04:45 PM

The wait to print this is killing me. Printer won't get here until April.

Did have one neat idea that I'm going to have to go out and see if its practical or not.

In the past I have used gold leaf in projects, and I can usually get a pretty nice finish out of it. I need to see if they make silver leaf (I know they make this one), steel gray leaf, and dark iron gray leaf.

My plan? Print the sword out, get it all smoothed and finished, then leaf the entire damned thing with actual metal so that it *LOOKS* like an honest to God metal sword, instead of just a spraypainted piece of plastic.

9th October 2013, 12:11 AM	#1
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP My 3D printer of choice (the Buccaneer by Pirate 3D) is getting closer to launching, which means I should be getting my printer in the next several months (I hope!). So, time to start modelling something to actually print with it. As usual, I've gone for my default testbed item, one I've been boarderline obsessed with since the 80's. The Sword of Omens from Thundercats. Only have the crossguards done so far (and I'm still tweaking them, just started it today), and as you can see from the pegs my goal will be to make these printable so they can be assembled into a finished physical replica. Since the print space is fairly limited (about a cubic foot), everything will need to be broken down into pieces like a resin kit. Will probably take several test prints to figure out exactly what kind of limits this new medium has (may have to stick in some sprues for printing), but here's hoping I'll have a 1:1 replica hanging on my wall by end of next year! Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

9th October 2013, 03:39 PM	#2
foxa Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greensboro NC, USA Posts: 337	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Looks great so far, but I have to ask. How are you going to print the blade Art

10th October 2013, 08:19 PM	#3
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP I'll model a slot inside the blade to house a flat metal rod for strength, print it out in 10-12" sections, slide it all together like a chain whip sword, glue it all down, and fill the gaps with epoxy like I was working a resin model kit. Which is what this will basically end up being, a really big model kit. __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

11th October 2013, 09:32 AM	#4
foxa Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greensboro NC, USA Posts: 337	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Very creative use of available resources sir, I salute you. Art

21st October 2013, 05:14 PM	#5
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Whew, the hardest parts are now done. Somebody remind me to obsess over a less ornate sword next time. Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion. Last edited by Edymnion; 22nd October 2013 at 03:14 PM.

23rd October 2013, 12:02 AM	#6
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Oh, and just for the record, thats not a texture on the Eye of Thundera. I carved the cat's head into the surface so that it will print as a recessed slot. Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

23rd October 2013, 11:31 PM	#7
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Okay, almost finished with this one. Exterior mesh just requires the filigree around the base of the pommel and everything will be done. After that, its just a matter of continuing to break up the sword into printable size pieces. You can see I've already started that, but I still need to section up the blade and pull off the crossguards. If you're sharp eyed, you may notice that I also have the slot for the steel bar in place as well. Hoping to have everything completely finished and ready to go by the weekend. Then it'll only be... about 4 months before I get the printer. :P Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

28th October 2013, 12:27 AM	#8
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP So much for getting anything done over the weekend. Computer problems. Got it up and running for the time being, but order has been placed for a new one (and I'm already drooling over the beast of a machine I've got coming in). I might even have to find a good rendering software for this one once I get that bad boy in. __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

30th October 2013, 01:54 PM	#9
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Well, since the board seems to have locked itself into only letting me attach a horrible resolution jpg (despite having deleted it off my HD entirely and uploaded a better png, the uploader keeps sticking the ugly jpg in there, even after restarting the browser), I'll use photobucket. The image is a little jaggier than before because I'm on a new computer, and for some reason AC3D's anti aliasing is different. Must be a setting somewhere that I can't find, but it doesn't smooth things out nearly as well as my old computer did. __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

21st January 2014, 04:45 PM	#10
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP The wait to print this is killing me. Printer won't get here until April. Did have one neat idea that I'm going to have to go out and see if its practical or not. In the past I have used gold leaf in projects, and I can usually get a pretty nice finish out of it. I need to see if they make silver leaf (I know they make this one), steel gray leaf, and dark iron gray leaf. My plan? Print the sword out, get it all smoothed and finished, then leaf the entire damned thing with actual metal so that it LOOKS like an honest to God metal sword, instead of just a spraypainted piece of plastic. __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

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