You can make guns, that's what.



I added some wash to bring out the details, as they don't photograph well. I still have to prime and paint the things.

You can also make pieces that GW doesn't make, such as this Hydra Flak Turret.



The turret is a little smaller than I'd like, at only 2" wide, but it beats paying through the nose for a FW model.

I modeled the guns using a CAD software, and uploaded the files to Shapeways.com. The only bad thing about it is the $25 minimum order, but as you can see, you get quality pieces for your efforts. The stacks of meltas were $2.20 each, and the Plasmas were $2.43 each. The turret ran me $17.73.

Anyone else done any 3D printing for their armies?

I would be careful going down that path. At least with the guns. They're not really recasts, but dangerously close on infringing on IP there.

I wouldn't be too worried about IP.... They're obviously GW oriented but if they're your own design they're your own design. That being said, I'd maybe skip the imperial eagle for something a bit more generic, though.

The thing I'd be hesitant about is about resolution and detailing, which there seems to be little of. The precision just doesn't seem to be there to recreate all the small scale details. Don't take this as me knocking your design, it's just a limitation of the tech.

GW is able to get the detail they get because they use injection molding in high precision metal molds, rather than 3D printing.

It'll get there some day though.

Who cares about IP if you're just doing it for yourself. Just don't sell it to people and you'll be fine. I think they came out great.

I've been wanting to try something like that for the game I'm developing, to make scenery kits for old west style buildings.. but I don't really have the 3D skills, and I dunno if it'll be cost effective, I'd wanna make a profit but not have to sell stuff at FW (or even GW) prices.

Looks good, but I'm not really familiar with this kind of thing..Are they plastic? How do the feel compared to actual pieces of GW stuff?

I'm not here to weigh in on the morality of this issue, whether or not this is justifiable or not. I just logged in to say that I feel like for the amount of work put into this project, they don't look that great. Plain and simple. We pay a premium for these models because the detail is ridiculously sharp. I don't mind spending 22 bucks on 5 guys if they are the coolest models around. Recently, gw design has impressed me and if you want to have models that have blocks for plasma guns then go right ahead. It just detracts from the amazing space marine or cadian holding it.

as a worker in the modeling industry ive used this ALOT. and you can create some of the most stunning detail imaginable, albeit the printers we use are quite high end (running around 300,000 dollars) but we have produced works for films and concept model at amazing levels of detail. They look exactly like their cg counterparts. when modelling next time, might i suggest using a 3d app such as cinema 4d, instead and Zbrush to touch up.

or the free versions
blender and milkshape

Looks like a good way to get custom army insignia like chapter markings though and it would be great for making building sized aquillas, mechanicum cogs and so forth. Thanks for bringing this to the attention of those of us such as myself that have never heard of this process (at least being available in such a way).

Samus_aran115 wrote:Looks good, but I'm not really familiar with this kind of thing..Are they plastic? How do the feel compared to actual pieces of GW stuff?

The Hydra is a type of sandstone resin that's really brittle, but fairly cheap to make. The guns are the material "White detail" which is a plastic that feel slightly softer than GW plastic, but shows much better detail than the sandstone.

No, the detail isn't as high as a GW model, but that's also due to the simplicity of my designs. The initial designs were a proof of concept to see what kind of detail I can get from the process, as I've not ordered anything from Shapeways before. The Hydra, as seen, is too small, and I have to adjust the size in my CAD. The guns turned out perfectly sized, and I can go from there by adding further detail. I will probably use something like blender rather than a CAD program for the next batch.

I I don't know that I'd try printing actual troops, as the resolution isn't as great as you'd need for that, and model sized figures run about $5 for printing. It is good for things like guns and bitz. I'd be willing to bet if you wanted to design, say, a female IG body, it would probably look great until you got the face.

Is it perfect? No. But if you've got the talent to create great things in 3D, then it's completely worth doing. I'm happy with my pieces, and I plan to order more once I upgrade my designs. It's not hard to do, and it beats paying 8 bucks for 5 plasma guns.

I'm impressed that you can send away and get the models printed and sent back.

As for the IP question, if you sculpt your own original, and don't copy the GW design too closely, there is no infringement.

So I'm getting ready to send out more models to be printed.

Here are the revamped designs:



The OGRYN (Offensive Ground ReadY automatoN). Basically a Counts-as Ogryn unit.



New Vehicle Lascannons!



Better Meltas!





Better Plasmas! Compare old to new.

Have you thought about having a few of the orignals 3D scanned to use those as a base for more detail?

Mohoc wrote:Have you thought about having a few of the orignals 3D scanned to use those as a base for more detail?

3D scanners that provide the level of detail necessary are fantastically expensive, and would be infringing on GW IP. These designs are mine from the ground up, though they follow the typical pattern of what they're supposed to be.

If you are concerend about infringing their IP you may want to remove the double headed eagle whish is a registered trademark.

I direct you to the link in my sig... I go big, or not at all

I have yet to have it printed, but I will damnit... With God as my witness, I will!!

Necros wrote:Who cares about IP if you're just doing it for yourself. Just don't sell it to people and you'll be fine. I think they came out great.

I've been wanting to try something like that for the game I'm developing, to make scenery kits for old west style buildings.. but I don't really have the 3D skills, and I dunno if it'll be cost effective, I'd wanna make a profit but not have to sell stuff at FW (or even GW) prices.

Reproduction is still protected even if it's for personal use. The rule of thumb is this; Is it reasonable that you would use the originals at the same time as the repoduced version? If so, then you are violating IP. If you make an mp3 of a song from your own CD, it's highly unlikely or reasonable that you'd listen to both your CD and reproduced mp3 at the same time, so that's fine. It's reasonable to assume that by making reproductions of GW models then you are not having to buy additional models because you are using them all at the same time, so there's a problem.

Giving it away or selling it is always a no no.

Oh god do we have to make this an IP discussion? Why do we care? We're hobbyists not GW's lawyer team. The guy isn't selling them he's doing it for his own purposes. It's onloy a form of scratchbuilding, he may as well be casting he own scuplted guns. Yes I'm sure we all know as pointed out by the anally retentive that it's technically violating IP, but in real world terms it doesn't matter it's small scale and for personal use.

chaos0xomega wrote:I direct you to the link in my sig... I go big, or not at all

I have yet to have it printed, but I will damnit... With God as my witness, I will!!

Make it hollow to cut down on costs.

Dude, you need to add some chamfering and fillets around the "meltas" because the blocks just look slowed.

I remain unimpressed with the guns. They're too blocky, and not in a good way. You could make good looking blocky guns, but it looks like they're just regular GW weapons made two dimensional. The hydra is rather nice though. I might actually need to get some of those done myself. Are you releasing your plans for these for the public, or should I just reinstall Blender and make my own? (and overcome the awful learning curve... again)

whatwhat wrote:If you are concerend about infringing their IP you may want to remove the double headed eagle whish is a registered trademark.

Aquila™ Roman Army 753 BC – AD 476


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquila_%28Roman%29

Lonecoon wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:I direct you to the link in my sig... I go big, or not at all

I have yet to have it printed, but I will damnit... With God as my witness, I will!!

Make it hollow to cut down on costs.

Already ahead of you.

Anyway, the chamfering that others are suggesting might be a good idea, but I dont know if its unnecessary (I'm sure you're realized that CAD screenshots sort of seem to exaggerate certain features of a design, making things appear larger than they really are).

Kozaan wrote:

whatwhat wrote:If you are concerend about infringing their IP you may want to remove the double headed eagle whish is a registered trademark.

Aquila™ Roman Army 753 BC – AD 476


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquila_%28Roman%29

Erm thanks.

This has what to do with the double headed eagle logo being a trademark of GW?

I think this is more like what he was after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle

The double eagle is not a GW trademark/copyright, the stylized double eagle w/ one blindfolded head however, is. The eagle used in the work here kind of straddles the line, but as far as I know, its perfectl legal, but I'm not an IP lawyer, and neither are you.

chaos0xomega wrote:I think this is more like what he was after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle

The double eagle is not a GW trademark/copyright, the stylized double eagle w/ one blindfolded head however, is. The eagle used in the work here kind of straddles the line, but as far as I know, its perfectl legal, but I'm not an IP lawyer, and neither are you.

GW have the trademark over the double headed eagle on wargaming miniatures, that's a fact.

If I used the Mcdonalds logo for my burger bar I couldn't get away with showing the court the wikipedia page for the letter M when Mcdonalds brought me to court over it.

by the by I would point out I did say: "IF you are concerned about ifringing their IP". I'm not telling him he shouldn't do it. Me I wouldn't care.

daedalus wrote:I remain unimpressed with the guns. They're too blocky, and not in a good way. You could make good looking blocky guns, but it looks like they're just regular GW weapons made two dimensional. The hydra is rather nice though. I might actually need to get some of those done myself. Are you releasing your plans for these for the public, or should I just reinstall Blender and make my own? (and overcome the awful learning curve... again)

The plans are available for download via the Shapeways website. Keep ion mind, some of the designs keep updating, especially as I improve with my CAD programs.

whatwhat wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:I think this is more like what he was after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle

The double eagle is not a GW trademark/copyright, the stylized double eagle w/ one blindfolded head however, is. The eagle used in the work here kind of straddles the line, but as far as I know, its perfectl legal, but I'm not an IP lawyer, and neither are you.

GW have the trademark over the double headed eagle on wargaming miniatures, that's a fact.

If I used the Mcdonalds logo for my burger bar I couldn't get away with showing the court the wikipedia page for the letter M when Mcdonalds brought me to court over it.

by the by I would point out I did say: "IF you are concerned about ifringing their IP". I'm not telling him he shouldn't do it. Me I wouldn't care.

...YOU ARE NOT AN IP LAWYER.

I'm not going to debate the finer points of IP law with you.

Need IG shotguns!!!

I don't understand why this forum is full of so many people that are concerned about GW and their IP. Seriously, I don't get it.
Someone posts something cool like this and gets sidelong glances about IP infringement and everything. This is the only hobby where I've ever seen this happen.
I build and work on a lot of motorcycles and "IP infringement" happens all the time. I take a blank fender and cut and shape it until it's almost an exact replica of a Harley or Honda fender for 1/5 the price and show it off on forums and people are congratualting me and asking me how to do it.
I know some guys that actually cast offical Harley parts with some mods and sell them as customs.
As far as GW parts, I've recasted some for myself, have given some parts to friends and so forth. Am i infringing on IP? Probably. Is anyone going to do anything about it? Definitely not.

Daggermaw, I'm right there with you on all counts (except I'm not involved with motorcycles), but totally agreed. I can understand someone saying something about it if they work for GW in a legal capacity, or hell if they happen to be an IP lawyer and are offering unsolicited advice (which probably wouldn't happen because there are potential legal ramifications to that in itself), but we're hobbyists working away at our hobby. You can scream bloody murder about it all day long, but its not going to stop anyone from doing it.

In fact, I'm partially convinced its a jealousy type thing: "Damn, I wish I had thought of that, thats really cool... well you know what, it infringes GW's IP and is therefore illegal and uncool so nyah!" I myself have been guilty of that in the past...

Also I would like to point out that you yourself whatwhat are violating GW's expansive and asinine IP policy.

Daggermaw wrote:I don't understand why this forum is full of so many people that are concerned about GW and their IP. Seriously, I don't get it.
Someone posts something cool like this and gets sidelong glances about IP infringement and everything. This is the only hobby where I've ever seen this happen.
I build and work on a lot of motorcycles and "IP infringement" happens all the time. I take a blank fender and cut and shape it until it's almost an exact replica of a Harley or Honda fender for 1/5 the price and show it off on forums and people are congratualting me and asking me how to do it.
I know some guys that actually cast offical Harley parts with some mods and sell them as customs.
As far as GW parts, I've recasted some for myself, have given some parts to friends and so forth. Am i infringing on IP? Probably. Is anyone going to do anything about it? Definitely not.

I really don't give damn about IP. If GW wants to bust my balls about this, they'll send me a cease and desist. It's no different than if I was hand making the pieces I need. Even if I was making these up and selling them for a profit, it still wouldn't matter. Could I call them meltagun or lascanons? Probably not, as GW probably has those terms copyrighted. Can I call them flame guns and Laser cannons? You're damn right I can. I'll probably ditch the double eagle and go for a single, but it really doesn't matter. I could put a cobra command symbol on them and it still wouldn't matter.

TCWarRoom wrote:Need IG shotguns!!!

I'll get to work on those next week. I have a publishing to work on for the rest of the week.

chaos0xomega wrote:

whatwhat wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:I think this is more like what he was after:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle

The double eagle is not a GW trademark/copyright, the stylized double eagle w/ one blindfolded head however, is. The eagle used in the work here kind of straddles the line, but as far as I know, its perfectl legal, but I'm not an IP lawyer, and neither are you.

GW have the trademark over the double headed eagle on wargaming miniatures, that's a fact.

If I used the Mcdonalds logo for my burger bar I couldn't get away with showing the court the wikipedia page for the letter M when Mcdonalds brought me to court over it.

by the by I would point out I did say: "IF you are concerned about ifringing their IP". I'm not telling him he shouldn't do it. Me I wouldn't care.

...YOU ARE NOT AN IP LAWYER.

chaos0xomega wrote:Daggermaw, I'm right there with you on all counts (except I'm not involved with motorcycles), but totally agreed. I can understand someone saying something about it if they work for GW in a legal capacity, or hell if they happen to be an IP lawyer and are offering unsolicited advice (which probably wouldn't happen because there are potential legal ramifications to that in itself), but we're hobbyists working away at our hobby. You can scream bloody murder about it all day long, but its not going to stop anyone from doing it.

In fact, I'm partially convinced its a jealousy type thing: "Damn, I wish I had thought of that, thats really cool... well you know what, it infringes GW's IP and is therefore illegal and uncool so nyah!" I myself have been guilty of that in the past...

Wow seriously? What's up your craw?

I don't need to be an IP lawyer to acknowledge the FACT that the double headed eagle is a registered trademark of GW. Trademarks are trademarks not intelectual property. And again if you read what I said I'm not shoving laws down his neck I said "IF he is concerned he should know...." not "DONT DO IT YOU ARE COMMITING BLOODY MURDER".

lots of fussing in this thread about IP this and IP that....why dont we leave the legal talk to GW and instead focus on what this guy is doing

I just bought a Makerbot 3d printer kit, which I am currently putting together...

However, if I use it for my hobby, it will be for very generic things (such as a cannon or cannon chassis for fantasy) that are based on historical things and not on GW designs.

I won't have the level of detail that Shapeways can do, though... having bits printed by 3d printers is definitely on the horizon, and perhaps even GW will start doing it- who knows?

can you get the same level of detail with 3D printing vs GW's current mold process? Wonder how the pricing on large scale compares for 3D printing vs current process

3D printing would work great for initial sculpts, however the materials used tend to be very brittle compared to other comercial plastics. So I can see them using them to create inital molds, but for mass production it is to slow and not very suitable, yet.

My brother has started 3D printing his own Tabletop game pieces, and (no offense to the OP) with much greater detail. I've seen the stuff, and the plastic may be more brittle, but unless I let my dog chew on it or toss it across the room I wouldn't be concerned about damaging it.

I think its a great idea, and wouldn't be ashamed to thow some of those on my own armies. Its great for TT quality. Wouldn't be putting it on any dioramas tho.

all in all, good job.

I considered doing a few Thousand Sons heads for my army and have them printed. Fact is, I own that old 1k sons mini like 12 times but getting the head out of it is almost impossible and I bear enough marks of tzeentch (= scars) for trying. Still got the models from the mod, so that's a good start.

Mohoc wrote:3D printing would work great for initial sculpts, however the materials used tend to be very brittle compared to other comercial plastics. So I can see them using them to create inital molds, but for mass production it is to slow and not very suitable, yet.

You're exactly right! Raging Heroes is currently doing this exactly:
http://www.ragingheroes.com/blogs/news/1774352-miracle-3d-prints-of-kahn-urkan

The next step is for things to become cheap enough, with a high enough resolution, to use them for actual in-game models. I don't see the technology being quite to this point yet, but it's getting there!

Lucid wrote:My brother has started 3D printing his own Tabletop game pieces, and (no offense to the OP) with much greater detail. I've seen the stuff, and the plastic may be more brittle, but unless I let my dog chew on it or toss it across the room I wouldn't be concerned about damaging it.

I think its a great idea, and wouldn't be ashamed to thow some of those on my own armies. Its great for TT quality. Wouldn't be putting it on any dioramas tho.

all in all, good job.

Is he using more elaborate models or a different service? If he's using more elaborate models, good on him; I'm using CAD software because I suck big time with blender. If he's using a different service, what's he using?

Could you 3D print something like cadian "leggings" that look like the bottom of trench coats with boots sticking out of the bottom? I'd buy that for a dollar!

or is it really just for flat things?

Lonecoon wrote:Is he using more elaborate models or a different service? If he's using more elaborate models, good on him; I'm using CAD software because I suck big time with blender. If he's using a different service, what's he using?

Blender is really hard to pick up, imho. I tried for about a week (on company time, too) and had very little success. I've found more "standard" CAD software to be much easier to work with (pro engineer and solidworks are the main ones I've used).

However, for smooth models these are unfortunately not ideal :-/

I'm sure the day will come when 3d printing is quality enough that the mold model will be obsolete. Is it even a question that GW will go to 3d printing someday? Hopefully that'll lower prices a bit.

guys why do you get so touchy over this ip stuff but love scratch builds? and by the way what program are you using? Google sketch-up or pro-engineer? and how precise can the printers be?

I don't think people are necessarily bothered by breach of copyright and trademarks, however this is supposed to be a friendly community and it it often worthwhile for friends to point out when you might be breaking the law. There is nothing to stop you scratchbuilding your own work, or even producing stuff for your own use with certain types of IP attached. However when you start producing stuff in an industrial manner that is based on someone else's legal propertry you can get into sticky situations.

Black Bear wrote:guys why do you get so touchy over this ip stuff but love scratch builds? and by the way what program are you using? Google sketch-up or pro-engineer? and how precise can the printers be?

It varies. The high end printers use resin that hardens when exposed to light of a certain wave length of light, which means they can do some great detail. More conventional 3D printers use a layering technique that is good for about .1-.15 milimeters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereolithography (3D laser printer, the most accurate)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fused_Deposition_Modeling (less accurate but faster, home 3d printers work on this principle)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_laser_sintering (this is kind of a mix between the other two printing systems, combining the best of both systems)

Black Bear wrote:guys why do you get so touchy over this ip stuff but love scratch builds? and by the way what program are you using? Google sketch-up or pro-engineer? and how precise can the printers be?

I use Google Sketch up, which is convenient in that it won't let me make things smaller than .1mm which is the detail resolution. You're limited to .2mm wall size, but they recommend 1mm walls.

Necros wrote:Could you 3D print something like cadian "leggings" that look like the bottom of trench coats with boots sticking out of the bottom? I'd buy that for a dollar!

or is it really just for flat things?

As long as you're good with your CADing program or 3d modeler, you can make whatever you want. I'm not skilled enough yet with SketchUp to do what you want, but I've got a friend who's working on some female Catachans for me.

Hans Chung-Otterson wrote:I'm sure the day will come when 3d printing is quality enough that the mold model will be obsolete. Is it even a question that GW will go to 3d printing someday? Hopefully that'll lower prices a bit.

lol. Just like getting stuff made in china has made things cheaper.

And now for some IP infringementifcation.

This is a great idea. I was thinking about goofing around with some Roman Legion Skaven (the treated XXIII Company), and have been looking around for some roman shields (scutum) to see if I like the look of my Skaven Clanrats running around with them. (Skaven running around in a testudo formation seems like a tactical decision they would make).

I have not been able to find a suitable model, especially considering the skaven are hunched over, so I might have to learn CAD to make some....

Now if anybody else wants to give it a try

If you make something for yourself, with no intentions of selling, you are not infringing on any IP.

The only true issue I could see anyone running into using a company like Shapeways regarding IP is making problems for Shapeways.

Even though you are submitting the files, and receiving the product, Shapeways would be the only company possibly running into an IP issue because they are making money selling something with GW IP on it....

But isn't that the same thing as something like getting your own 40k eagle emblem design on a t-shirt from cafepress.com? You upload the image, they print it onto a shirt and sell it to you. Would cafepress be at fault? or the person that made the shirt? or both? or neither?

I can't wait to get my RepRap Mendel going.

Lonecoon, thanks for posting this. I didn't realize there were actually affordable services to do stuff like this. I've whipped up pro/e models of a few ships and things before with vague notions of eventually making models of them, but this is inspiring me to actually make up some custom pieces that have been causing me some trouble.

Might try my hand at some power scythes for my assault troops. Possibly a few custom chapter pauldrons.

Might even have to dig up the mobius strip I did for a project a couple years back just for funzies...

Necros wrote:But isn't that the same thing as something like getting your own 40k eagle emblem design on a t-shirt from cafepress.com? You upload the image, they print it onto a shirt and sell it to you. Would cafepress be at fault? or the person that made the shirt? or both? or neither?

I will happily say that I have no idea whatsoever, it was just a motion of "I would think" with no actual experience or knowledge to back it up....

How about making Terrain kits or say Dark Eldar towers for display boards. That would be cool.

Could you use 3D printing to make space corridors or industrial towers?

Almost certainly. As long as the item to be made is smaller than the printer active volume you could fabricate it. How robust it would end up being would depend on the individual system and materials used.

Thanks for sharing this information, it amazing what technology can affordable do now days.

You 2nd Melta design looks a lot better, as does the 2nd lascannon. Personally I feel they need just a little more detail work to perfect them, specifically rounding some of edges slightly.

That being said, I don't know how to do any of this kind of design, so I applaud your effort.

EDIT: and I love the O.G.R.Y.N., but I wonder if it would look better with joints more like the Sentinel legs, instead of the ball joins on the big arm.

Grass4hopper wrote:Thanks for sharing this information, it amazing what technology can affordable do now days.

You 2nd Melta design looks a lot better, as does the 2nd lascannon. Personally I feel they need just a little more detail work to perfect them, specifically rounding some of edges slightly.

That being said, I don't know how to do any of this kind of design, so I applaud your effort.

EDIT: and I love the O.G.R.Y.N., but I wonder if it would look better with joints more like the Sentinel legs, instead of the ball joins on the big arm.

Thanks for the feedback. The O.G.R.Y.N got rejected by the printer for have a thin wall on something I'd missed, so I'll CAD it up with sentinel type legs and see how if I like it.

Well this is certainly interesting. Thanks for getting me back into 3D modeling

(Linking because I just put a few pictures over there and don't want to rehost, not trying to sell anybody anything)

Shotgun:
http://www.shapeways.com/model/196092/barrage_combat_shotgun.html?gid=ug65016

Sirroco (Plasma):
http://www.shapeways.com/model/196048/sirroco_rifle.html?gid=rg

I like them. Now do a Titan and we'll really be in business.

A little big don't you think?
I was thinking some swat shields next, or maybe spme sort of exo-armor troopers. I'm trying to stay somewhat distinct from the standard GW style, in case I ever want to use these things for making my own game.

eledamris wrote:I like them. Now do a Titan and we'll really be in business.

Printing a titan would be mind bogglingly expensive. How big is a titan anyway? The largest printable size is 70x38x58cm

Irdiumstern wrote:Well this is certainly interesting. Thanks for getting me back into 3D modeling

(Linking because I just put a few pictures over there and don't want to rehost, not trying to sell anybody anything)

Shotgun:
http://www.shapeways.com/model/196092/barrage_combat_shotgun.html?gid=ug65016

Sirroco (Plasma):
http://www.shapeways.com/model/196048/sirroco_rifle.html?gid=rg

I like your designs more than mine.

Well I guess you'd have to print parts at a time.
They're different, which is what I was going for. Personally I really like the meltagun you made.

Now, what to do next . . . Autocannon pods which would fit dreadnaughts as well as hydras? Might be worth updating yours to fit on a dread.

Necros wrote:Could you use 3D printing to make space corridors or industrial towers?

Ahw, nobody took the reference.


As for the 3D-printing, I don't really like the quality actually, it seems like all round forms need a lot of retouching (and probably other surfaces as well).

It does however look like I could use it for a model I built recently. It is already designed in SolidWorks and consists only of straight edged components (some minor exceptions). I originally used resin casting to build the model from modeling clay 'greens', but that has been a bit of a hassle. If I want to build some more, this would be very helpful. So thanks!

Some pictures (Note: this is done using only plasticard and casting, no 3D-printing (yet))

I agree with an earlier post i couldnt care less about ip etc im interested in seeing cool miniatures.from what ive seen so far its possible to really personalise your army with some pieces no one else will have.

Agreed, I do care a small bit about IP, but I don't think printing weapons will really be that much easier or cheaper than just gathering some bits from friends/internet anyway. And it will never look as good as the actual bits.

For building your own stuff, it's a lot more applicable!

Wow neat thread and excellent timing!

I sat in a very boring meeting today, so started sketching up some ideas for new bits, and then remembered Sketchup. I've always wanted to get into doing CAD work (indeed my degree project based based on VRML - long time ago now) so I may try to make something.

I suggest anyone wanting to learn CAD uses Solidworks if they have access to it, or Google Sketch Up if they don't (Which is free). Go through all the tutorials, as it takes hours on hours to learn!

There's a couple tutorials on the shapeways website as well for exporting your files using programs like Nettfabb and Meshlab, which will ensure that your model can print.

There's another service I've found recently called Sculpteo that's more expensive but you can make smaller orders.

Good news everyone! A package came in the mail today with more stuff!

Behold! The Offensive Ground ReadY automatoN


I'm a little unhappy with the overall design, but I'm happy with the printing. I have already made a second version, which I will probably have printed in the next month. It stands here next to a 28mm figure I'm working on for Pathfinder.

Also: Meltas V.20



As you can see, vastly improved upon from the first version. Hopefully my shotguns will be here in another week, along with the other two mechas.

ink/wash them w/ black or some other dark color. Its too hard to make out the detail.

Those don't look bad at all. I think a little GS fine detail would improve them, but overall I'm impressed with what you are achieving with this.

Good start I agree that the guns look too blocky and could do with rounding off and were not ip lawyers so should leave the discussion for another time I have commented on this site before about sharing my concerns/opinions and my fears for someone's fantastic project getting them in trouble but it just leads to a rather heated discussion. as I said a good start and a worthy experiment the technology can probably recreate whatever level of detail you can put onto the cad version so maybe try to push the envelope a bit and see how far you can get the company to stretch their talents. it is worthwhile to note that some companies do use different materials like nylon powder which is melted together and is actualy very hard. some companies are even starting to experiment with repid prototyping in mentals like titanium for medical implants so if you had the cash you could have rediculously strong models I'm not sure if a white metal like the stuff GW uses could be applied in the same fashion but what i find really exciting is the possibility that in a few years some enterprising young sould is gonna sugest that gw do a custom 3d painting program and 3d printing service so we could be ordering all our figures painted in whatever color scheme we want direct from the manufacturer with insane levels of detail.


I might actually have to try this service out at some point maybe make some terain features I have been thinking of.

Shapeways does do metal printing, it's just three times as expensive as the detail plastic resin.

Of interesting note, the O.G.R.Y.N unit was printed in "White strong and flexible," while the meltas were printed in "White detail. You get much better detail, obviously, with the "White detail," and if you choose to print something that's going on a miniature, that's the route you should take.

Lonecoon from your experiences so far, do you this thinks it possible to design SM shoulder pads with custom heraldry and/or just the heraldry icon to glue on to and existing should pad?

I'm contemplating sculpting the icon in GS and (trying) to make mold to create a bunch on icons for my Chapter. If you think I could get fairly detailed results from printing, I'll look into it more.

EDIT: Also the O.G.R.Y.N. looks a lot better with the Sentinel style legs. Do you mind posting some more picture of it from different angles, so we can see the side details?

Though I'd say if you're going to make more O.G.R.Y.N.s, I'd split them into multiple parts. Not only would it make it easier to re-pose, but I think the gaps between mechanical joints would be easier if there were, well, actual gaps there.

Hmmmmm not sure what to think. So far I don't like anything I have seen in this thread. It just doesn't look very good.

On the other side of that though is that you are new at this so I see some pretty good potential with practice. It will be interesting to see what you can do when you start getting better.

You have already improved a lot just between the two meltas.

Grass4hopper wrote:Lonecoon from your experiences so far, do you this thinks it possible to design SM shoulder pads with custom heraldry and/or just the heraldry icon to glue on to and existing should pad?

I'm contemplating sculpting the icon in GS and (trying) to make mold to create a bunch on icons for my Chapter. If you think I could get fairly detailed results from printing, I'll look into it more.

EDIT: Also the O.G.R.Y.N. looks a lot better with the Sentinel style legs. Do you mind posting some more picture of it from different angles, so we can see the side details?

Shoulder pads would be super easy to do. Make your measurements, add your iconography, and you're done. The finest detail you can get is .2mm, which should be more than sufficient for heraldry. I will tell you that if you do make them, make them on sprues, as I did for the meltas as the minimum model cost is $1.50.

Some side views of the O.G.Y.R.N







As for the O.G.Y.R.N, I do like the sentinel style legs better. They have the added bonus of being slightly cheaper to print.

The redesign I think I will split up into parts. it seems to have more natural places to break pieces. Here's the render of it:

Lonecoon wrote:
Shoulder pads would be super easy to do. Make your measurements, add your iconography, and you're done. The finest detail you can get is .2mm, which should be more than sufficient for heraldry. I will tell you that if you do make them, make them on sprues, as I did for the meltas as the minimum model cost is $1.50.

Awesome, I'll have to look into learning how to product the designs.

I like the new O.G.R.Y.N. design, especially how you replaced the ball joints on the chainfist arm. The teeth look a little wide on the chainfist, and it seems like they might be spaced too far apart. The teeth on the original design looked good. The skull looks a little off, but I know you said the computer distorts he image, against what it actually looks like; so may that the case. At first I thought that the fact that the front of the torso being at a upward angle would look weird, but then I remember that you going to be looking down at the figure when it's on the table, so I think it perfect the way you have it. I miss the sensors you had on the original, maybe you could add some below the lip underneath the skull.

Thanks for the continued inspiration, keep up the great work.

EDIT: I looked at the teeth on the chainfist again. I still think they might be too wide, but the spacing is fine except for the rounded tip. I think if you add just 2 or 3 more teeth on the tip it would looked even better.

New render's definitely looking good. I'm working on a couple models of my own though and I'm running into a couple issues. How thick are the guns you've made, and what are the dimensions on the sprues you used to join them?

The guns are about 4mm thick, and the sprues are about 1.5mm thick. The minimum wall thickness is 1mm. I like to have a small buffer so that it doesn't get rejected by the printers.

Ahh, brilliant, thanks. I'll try a buffer and see if that helps any.

Would something like this be good for making custom bases? Like, say, a regular round 40k base, that has a tiled pattern etched into it with some necron symbols and stuff?

or would something like that take way too much cutting time to make it worthwhile?

Wouldn't take any cutting time, you'd get exactly what you wanted. Keep in mind you'd be paying about $2.00 a base.

Your best bet would be to get one made, then make a casting and copy it. It's your design, you're free to copy it however you want.

does it have to be done with a 3D program? like, could I just give them an EPS / vector 2d file?

I was thinking also instead of going for getting a whole base printed, instead I could do like a 1 or 2mm thick disc with the pattern etched into that instead.. would that be cheaper? then I could just glue them on top of a regular base.

or would I be better off trying to find a laser etching service?

Necros wrote:does it have to be done with a 3D program? like, could I just give them an EPS / vector 2d file?

I was thinking also instead of going for getting a whole base printed, instead I could do like a 1 or 2mm thick disc with the pattern etched into that instead.. would that be cheaper? then I could just glue them on top of a regular base.

or would I be better off trying to find a laser etching service?

I would say the best option is to find a laser/waterjet cutting service, and use an EPS/vector program. I'm fairly certain that the cutters will accept vector files (I think its a specific format though, not sure, you'll have to look into it), and its just a matter of cutting out a shape, and having the pattern etched in. Should be fairly cheap. Say 10 bucks for a sheet of material (mdf?) that you could probably get 100+ 25mm bases cut from. And then say 30 bucks for the service (guesstimate).

Woo! Finally got my own models loaded up and ordered! Admittedly I'm going in a different direction, but this is basically what I made:




.....with things on sprues for the purpose of production. I'll be sure to post results in 10 days when they arrive.

That scythe looks pretty sweet. Kinda reminds me of sorscha from Warmachine.

The jetpack is... its interesting, not sure how I feel about it, but its quality work, if nothing else.

I'm really interested to see how these turn out.

Yeah, I'm hoping the details don't get too washed out or distorted. Just a test run though really, so we'll see.

while blender is complete freeware and is quite easy to take up(1 monthish) if you follow tuts. ive found much more success using cinema 4d as my main 3d modeling aplication and when mixed with Zbrush, it produces amazing models that have been printed.

I really need to get into the non-cad side of 3d stuff. I'm gonna have to give blender/cinema 4d and others a shot, but my engineering oriented brain goes crazy with the weird interfaces...

Do any of you guys have any good resources for this type of thing? websites/books?

I tried to get familiar with Blender for a week on company time... and it was pretty much a wasted week! Granted, I was trying to do lighting to take a realistic image of an existing model with it, so not exactly the same, but I would rate it's learning curve at extremely steep- even with tutorials! (I was using one the whole time...)

Solidworks education version is around $150, and worlds easier... but I'm biased, since it's what I'm used to now!

I tried solidworks/maya 3d... I didn't get it...

Oh god!
OH GOD!
THE 3D PRINTERS EXISTS!?

Could you make an orc and print it with detail!?

Loving the look of that wings/jetpack thing- I'll be following this closely to see how it comes out!

Where can you order 3d printing? who has the best quality for cheapest price?
What format can they accept, is it possible to print models that you make with 3d Studio Max?

The wings look nice I'm assuming from the flur de lees on the reflection your designing them for sisters of battle. In which case they look good I was worried that they were for regual marines and was going to comment that more conventional feathers or knife shapes but for the SoB these look good

Warnolo wrote:Oh god!
OH GOD!
THE 3D PRINTERS EXISTS!?

Could you make an orc and print it with detail!?

You could, but you're talking about $5.00 a model. I guess that's fine for IC's, if you want to spend the time to make them.

NeCrotic wrote:Where can you order 3d printing? who has the best quality for cheapest price?
What format can they accept, is it possible to print models that you make with 3d Studio Max?

Shapeways.com is where I get my printing done. Another site is Sculpteo.com; they have slightly higher prices but no minimum order. I use .stl files, but I know Shapeways will take .vrl, and .3ds files.

mullet_steve wrote:The wings look nice I'm assuming from the flur de lees on the reflection your designing them for sisters of battle. In which case they look good I was worried that they were for regual marines and was going to comment that more conventional feathers or knife shapes but for the SoB these look good

Yes, I did design them with sisters in mind. I think they'd be a bit small to look convincing on a marine. I'll probably go back and clean up the feathers a bit after I see how this run came out. The current feathers are mostly a placeholder as it took me forever to get even that much and I was pretty frustrated by that point. The trailing edge could certainly use more work though. I'll put up a better composite view once I get more of it sorted.

Why do I want Jump packs with knife wings now! I play orks they don't use frilly girly wings! Dangit I'm not starting a new army just to have cool knife winged jump packs!

I think that right now if someone were to make a missle launcher with a little hand on it (for space marines style units) they would quickly become rich. People are charging $10-15 for the real deal. Sell a knock off for around $5-7 and I bet they'd buy.

As long as its unique and doesn't use any GW IP you'd be absolutly fine. there are a plethora of missile launcher designs to base you version on. remember google sketchup is your friend why not give it a go yourself Stalkerzero?

mullet_steve wrote:As long as its unique and doesn't use any GW IP you'd be absolutly fine. there are a plethora of missile launcher designs to base you version on. remember google sketchup is your friend why not give it a go yourself Stalkerzero?

I think it may be worth the time but I have no talent for any computer graphic type software (I'm a developer not an artist in any way - my painting skills speak to that). But....being an IT geek I do know a few CAD students that may be willing to take a look at it.

I'll try google first. If that fails I'll try desperate college kids who need money.

Jump pack looks cool.

Maybe for use with a DA army of sorts?

Thread necromany. did all interest in this die because I really want to see what people are doing with this stuff?

I haven't printed anything recently. My shotguns wouldn't print because the models kept failing in the design checks. I'm trying to learn Blender, but it goes slowly. I'm interested to see how that backpack turned out.

My test shipment shipped after the projected arrival date....and now it's been hung up in New Jersey due to "mechanical issues." Might have something to do with the recent snowmaggedonnarok that everyone seems to be freaking out about. I'll post results when I get my stuff in, for better or worse. Might start my own thread, depending.

I had some stuff coming in from Britan that's been delayed by the Icepocolypse as well. European shipments are all jacked up right now.

Finally got my shipment in. It was....okay. Results here: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/345275.page#2420160

I haven't printed anything recently. My shotguns wouldn't print because the models kept failing in the design checks. I'm trying to learn Blender, but it goes slowly. I'm interested to see how that backpack turned out.

If you're looking for a way to test/fix your models, "Netfabb Studio Basic" is a great free tool. It can repair a LOT of model problems automatically, as well as do scaling and help estimate material usage. I use it to prep everything in my shop. If you want me to look over your model and see if I can repair it, I could probably help you out. Just email me or send me a PM.

On a side note: Blender is an harsh mistress. I know your pain.

I actually use Net Fabb Studios to proof my models. I found that by eliminating internal geometry and making sure the faces aren't reversed the designs come across much more accurately.

I have coming to me one of the new O.G.R.Y.N units and some new plasma guns that I modeled. I'll post pictures once they arrive next week.

So the new O.G.R.y.N unit arrived today:







I'm really happy with this sculpt, and I'll probably order a few more to round out my Ogryns.

My last print shipment, still waiting on a White Detail print of the gun deck.

Using MetaSeq, Sketchup, and Meshlab the freebie trio.

A buddy of mine pointed this thread out to me, so I thought Id share some of the things I have done.

The technology for high resolution printing does exist. This was printed on a 16nm printer.


Same model in comparison to a GW marine. Due to an error I made, he actually came out a bit small.


Painted up and ready to rock. (Blurry phone photo)


Partial large scale print, made for trophies for our local gaming club.


Wireframe of the model

patchwork667 wrote:A buddy of mine pointed this thread out to me, so I thought Id share some of the things I have done.

The technology for high resolution printing does exist. This was printed on a 16nm printer.

Solidscape or another machine?

Vandil wrote:

patchwork667 wrote:A buddy of mine pointed this thread out to me, so I thought Id share some of the things I have done.

The technology for high resolution printing does exist. This was printed on a 16nm printer.

Solidscape or another machine?

The small one was printed on an Eden. I mistyped 16 nm when I meant 16 μm. (0.0006 inch)

The large one was printed on a Uprint.