Rapid prototyping services

[AJLynn]

I'm doing my thesis in digital/computational design (think Greg Lynn stuff, no we're not related AFAIK) and will probably want to use a rapid prototyping service (stereolithography, starch, something else, not sure yet) to do models in April - but if I do some research now I might be able to get funding. Does anybody use these services and can give me some insight into how to go about this, what companies, are good, etc?

[Brian Cassil]

I've created several, a couple of them were fairly large too, all using the Z-corp method. I did a fair amount of research before deciding which method to go with. I decided to go with Z-corp becuase of the speed and I liked the look of the finished product material. I used a service bereau in Huntington Beach, CA. They were great to work with. Here's a link to them: http://www.3drapidprototyping.com/

 

Hope any of this is helpfull.

[chuck]

This stuff really interests me...

 

Can you share some pictures of your models Brian?

[Brian Cassil]

Well, I'd love to but can't. You see, these models were all done for one project, and our company has signed a non-disclosure agreement which prevents us from publicly sharing any information about this particular project. It kind of stinks becuase I've probably spent 1000 hours or more doing interiors, exterierior, site studies, rapid prototypes, and all sorts of other stuff on this project, and doing it all several times over, but I can't show it to anyone. I'd love to share some of this with the fellows here to get some feedback, because it's so helpfull, but can't. Maybe after the client publishes the design I can but I don't know when/if that is ever going to happen.

 

However I would be happy to answer any specific questions you have about rapid prototyping. I've definetly learned a few things along the way.

[joseph alexander]

You have two options: ABS Plastic or Plaster... Plaster is cheaper, however you have to treat it which rounds you're edges slightly and gives it a slight yellow hue. (it would be like giving everything a 1/32 fillet on edges). ABS is much cleaner and can offer a higher resolution print, but takes three times as long to print and costs three times as much. Also, if you go with plastic, make sure your provider has experience because the process of melting off the filler requires experience. we had a company give us a sample ABS model which was horrible because the weren't experienced with the equipment.

 

I would recommend contacting ZCORP and getting the software and .pdfs. (ZEdit .06 and Zprint v 7.2)

 

One trick that will save you time is that overlapping solids will "auto-Boolean" so you don't necessarily need one closed object.

 

Remember that you're a student and poor and need the model desperately... if you don't mention this you'll get a quote from a provider that will make you gasp.

 

For finding a provider you should:

A. go through your school

B. http://www.superpages.com "rapid prototype"

C. if you can't find anyone contact Cadd Edge in NYC http://www.caddedge.com there's a guy Arthur who can help you out..

[luckytohaveher]

Check out

 

http://www.roundstonedigital.com

 

Roundstone Digital, Inc.

Encinitas, California

Phone & Fax: 760-632-8124

 

I worked with them before and achieved a fantastic result. There are great, very responsive, helpful, and the price was good.

 

Good luck!

[AJLynn]

Thanks, this is good stuff (and maybe I can pull it off...)

 

How much does this cost, ballpark? Hundreds? Thousands? I'll need Autodesk to sponsor my thesis?

[joseph alexander]

Each prototype service will give you a price per cubic inch. These Vary wildy.. at cost it's around $3-$4, we've spent up to $16, with the company doing all the finishing work..

Sooo.. model something up.. estimate the volume... you got the price...

 

You really have to call the RP services up first and get a price off them... but to give you a rough idea.. we had a site model printed for the NASCAR hall of fame. 20" by 12" with a few buildings... it was $1,600...

a smaller 10" x 5" was $100.00 at cost and around $600 sale.

But that's the most you would ever pay if you're an office.

 

Remember, tell them you're a student, and you live off of Ramen. Ask for the price per cubic inch.. shoot for about $4.

 

It's actually very good business for them, b/c you may work at an office and hook them up with a sale of a machine or printing work.

 

hope this helps,

 

-joe

[Brian Cassil]

Like Joseph said, size does matter. The big ones that I've done 26 x 15 x 25 cost $20,000. Then we paid another guy in Seattle to model the site by hand and put the building on it. All together it was 25,000+ for the model. Those are really big models though, and the bigger they get the more mass you have to add so that the walls dont crumble under the weight. In the end the client was suprememly happy and reimbursed us for the cost.

 

So my advice on keeping cost down would be to do it as small as you can get away with.