3d printing action heroes

3D Printing Action Heroes

Anna Gerber

Anna Gerber


Outline

• Previously: 3D Sculpting Action Heroes– Generating base models

– Slicing into parts & adding joints

– Customizing via 3D sculpting tools

• Today: 3D Printing Action Heroes– Recap meshmixer & finish models

– Preparing parts for 3D printing

– 3D printing

– Cleaning up 3D printed parts

• Adding electronics to 3D printed Action Heroes– April 24th

– Make them interactive

– Electronics & coding

Anna Gerber


Outline

• Decide on which models you want to use– Models you created yourself

– Adapt models from other sources

• Use Meshmixer to:– Scale models to ~18cm

– Add joints, magnet mounts and other structural features

– Add mount points for electronics components

– Customize appearance with 3D scuplting tools

• Prepare models for printing & export to STL

• Orient models for printing

• How to use the 3D printers

• How to clean up printed parts

Anna Gerber


Sources for models

• Character mesh generators

• Thingiverse– http://www.thingiverse.com/

– Use Creative Commons licensed models

• Model Resource– From games, for personal use only

– http://www.models-resource.com/

• Create a model of someone's head– Use 123DCatch app to create model from photos

• http://www.123dapp.com/catch

– Use a Kinect & Microsoft's 3D Scan app• (Windows only)

• http://microsoft.com/3d

Anna Gerber


http://www.thingiverse.com/

http://www.models-resource.com/

http://www.123dapp.com/catch

http://microsoft.com/3d

Character Mesh Generators

• Use character mesh generators to save time:• Make Human

– Free & Open Source

– http://www.makehuman.org/

– License of generated characters: CC0

• Mixamo Fuse (Now owned by Adobe)– https://www.mixamo.com/fuse

– Free preview requires Adobe account

– Royalty free use of generated models allowed for 3D prints but you cannot sell the generated models directly

• AutoDesk Character Generator– http://area.autodesk.com/products/charactergenerator

– Free & Paid Subscription service

– Unrestricted usage of generated models

Anna Gerber


http://www.makehuman.org/

https://www.mixamo.com/fuse

http://area.autodesk.com/products/charactergenerator

MakeHuman

Anna Gerber


Fuse

Anna Gerber


AutoDesk Character Generator

Anna Gerber


Export the character model

• Export model as OBJ format model

• AutoDesk Character Generator exports FBX –

convert these to OBJ using AutoDesk FBX

Converter or other 3D software

• Online converter:

– http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/

• We're using AutoDesk Meshmixer for 3D Sculpting:

– http://www.meshmixer.com/

– Free software for Windows, Mac or Linux

• Alternative sculpting programs include Sculptris & Z-

Brush

Anna Gerber


http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/

http://www.meshmixer.com/

Scales

You'll need to scale your model to Action Hero

size. Popular scales:

• 1:4 (18") common for collector dolls

• 1:6 (12") i.e. original G.I. Joe scale

• 1:10 (7") currently the most popular size

• 1:12 (5 -6") 90s Action Toys

• 1:18 (4") kids action figures e.g. Star Wars

We'll use 1:10 scale i.e. around 15 – 18 cm tall

Anna Gerber


Import OBJ model to Meshmixer

Anna Gerber


Scale Model in Meshmixer

• Adjust scale via Edit > Transform so that the model

is around 15 – 18 cm tall

• Red = X

• Green = Y

• Blue = Z

Anna Gerber


Ball Joints

• We're using a ball joint system:

– Ball joints fit into sockets

– Parts held together with elastic

• Alternative joint systems include:

– Print-in-place ball joints

– Snap together joints

e.g. see Open Source Action Figure

by Jason Welsh http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:116571

– Scale by 0.4 if you are using these parts

Anna Gerber


http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:116571

Slice model into parts

• Use the Plane cut tool to separate limbs

• Use Select brush then Edit > Separate for more

control

Anna Gerber


Add balls joints to parts

Anna Gerber


Add ball, use Transform tool to scale to appropriate size and move into position

Anna Gerber


Combine & Make solid, then use sculpting tools to refine model & blend joint onto part

Customize parts

• Use sculpting tools to refine and modify parts

Anna Gerber


Joints for elbows & knees

• Elbow & knee joints can be created as separate

parts if desired, for maximum flexibility

Anna Gerber


Torso joint

• Slice torso using select tool

• Mesh mix cylinder to extend torso base

• Hollow out parts

• Add strut across inside of torso base for elastic

• Add length to neck

Anna Gerber


Add sockets to parts

Anna Gerber


Place ball (slightly larger than joint ball), then use boolean diference to subtract

Hollow out parts

Anna Gerber


Also use boolean difference to Create hollows in parts

Add holes for elastic

Anna Gerber


Use a cylinder and boolean difference,Use sculpting tools to round edges

Split head cap from head

• Use select brush for precise selection or use

slice tool for flat cut

Anna Gerber


Hollow out head & eyes & add magnet

mounting points

Anna Gerber


Add magnet mounts

• Round magnets hold head cap on: 3mm x1mm

– Use meshmix tool to add cylinders at least (6mm x 4mm), move into position

– Add a 3.5 mm x 1.5mm cylinder and use boolean difference to cut out the hole for the magnet

– Make solid, and use sculpting tools to blend into base model

Anna Gerber


LED mounts

• LEDs are 5mm or 8mm in diameter. You'll have 2 single color and 2 multi-color LEDsto work with

– If you want to use LEDs for eyes, meshmix in a sphere and use boolean difference to hollow out space from inside the head

– Use sculpting tools to shape outside of eye sockets

– You can also use doll eyes, beads or 3D printed eyeballs for eyes

Anna Gerber


Add magnet & electronics mounts

• Magnets on feet are 4mm x8mm cylinders

• Also add 2mm hole for wires (wires run up the legs from battery holder under feet)

• Microcontroller is 18mm x 25mm x 4mm– Make sure you cut out a big

enough space inside the torso to fit this

• Also leave space for the piezobuzzer (for beeps and sounds) & wires (11mm diameter x 12 mm high)

Anna Gerber


Button mounts

• You can add pushbuttons to your figure to trigger

different behaviour (e.g. change colour of LEDs)

– Make space to mount inside head or cut out holes

from torso back if you want the buttons to be

visible

– Our buttons are 6mm x 6mm

Anna Gerber


Add insignia

• Use meshmix tool to merge insignia on to the

figure (e.g. Iron-Man style chest medallion)

• Use boolean difference to punch cut-outs or thin

out shell of torso to be transparent if you want to

mount LEDs inside chest

Anna Gerber


ANALYSIS AND PREP

Anna Gerber


Meshmixer analysis tools - units

Use Analysis > Units / Dimensions tool to check part dimensions

Anna Gerber


Meshmixer analysis tools - strength

Anna Gerber


Use Analysis > Strength tool to assess strength of the part – it should be all green

Meshmixer analysis tools - measure

Anna Gerber


Use Analysis > Measure tool to measure between any points on the model e.g. to confirm that the magnet mounts are big enough

Meshmixer analysis tools - Inspector

Anna Gerber


Use Analysis > Inspector tool for basic repair of holes

Orientation

Select Analysis > Orientation for automatic orientation

Anna Gerber


Fixing problems

Models need to be manifold to print (i.e. could exist as objects in the real world). Avoid:– Extra internal faces

– Holes in the mesh e.g. faces not properly connected

• Remove internal faces: Use Make Solid tool

• Holes: Use automatic repair or use select tool to select sides of hole, then use Bridge tool to fill them in

• Thin walls: Use select and then Edit > Extrude tool to thicken walls

Use NetFabb Basic auto-repair as a final step if your part has problems. They also provide an online repair service: https://netfabb.azurewebsites.net/

Anna Gerber


Overhangs & Support

• Overhanging parts

will need support so

they don't suffer the

effects of gravity

• The Up! Printers will

generate support, or

we can manually

add it to the model

– Select Print

– Transform & Move

to Platform

– Add Supports

Anna Gerber


Export to STL

Export to STL

format for 3D

printer via Export

button on Print

screen, or via

File > Export.

Then import STL

into Up! software

Anna Gerber


Next steps

• Make a list of all parts required– Prepare printable versions for all parts

– Create mirror versions for left/right feet, limbs, hands

• Add your models to the USB stick

• Next session:– Adding electronics

– Soldering

– Microcontroller programming

– Assembling the figures

– Decoration: hair, eyes, costumes

– We'll discuss options for painting/finishing 3D printed parts, if you want to paint your figure after the workshop

Anna Gerber


License

• This slide desk was authored by Anna Gerber,

April 2016 and may be shared or adapted under

a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike (4.0

CC-BY-SA) license:

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Anna Gerber


3d printing action heroes

Design