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Hey Gents

I believe that GW now uses, perhaps as part of its tool-set, Computer Aided Design to create its miniatures!

Couple of questions to those in the know:

The CAD file replaces the traditional green?
or is the CAD file used to produce a pre mould model?
...can the files used be sent to a mould maker and converted into a working mould?

My final question.....does anyone know what the program is? is it availible on the market?

Cheers guys!

Working for an engineering company that actually did this with parts (not models) it kind of went like this:

Engineers would draft individual parts on a program called SolidWorks, on a model it might be an arm or whatever, then they would fit each part together within the program to make sure that it fit.

If it was a one off test model, they would print it in a 3D printing machine to see how it came out.
If it is a batch, they will send it off to a company to print a bunch of them.

I am going to throw out my 2 cents and guess that you can make a mould out of the solid works print.

I'd guess they're using AutoCAD.

Hey Grey Knight Luke

I also work for the Automotive industry (Engineering) I'm using Unigraphics IDEAS, NX5 and Catia V5.....so I'm familiar with assembly techniques and packaging....

The problem is, I'd hate to model a human body in a fully dynamic pose using any of those programs, I could use free surface modelling, but again, I'd have to do some complex and time consuming calcs to get what I would want, and even then, change management would be a nightmare using engineering parametric techniques!

I'm imagining they something like 3D studio max?!? but I really don't know....

@ Brother SRM

I'd say that AutoCAD is even less useful for free form design then the programs I use, I could be wrong, my wife uses AutoCAD for Architecture, and I used it breifly in College, but from what I've seen and what I've experienced I'd be surprised if they use that program....I could e wrong though

AutoCAD would not be suited for designing minis. 3ds Max would definitely work though.

If they just need a .stl file, 3ds max or most any other 3d modeling program can export that format.

GW has talked about using CAD softwares in WD a few times. You can even tell with some of the redone SM sprues, and others.

You notice things that are identical but are a left and right arm for example.

I don't think 3dsMax would be very good. It creates meshes for graphics.

Unigraphics creates 3-dimensional objects with volume and material properties. From what I was told, it started as a tool for creating auto body panels.

I used NX when I was working in Aerospace design. Fantastic program, it did great with anything you need to machine. Even could create the draft you need for mold release.

Check out Wargames Factory. They use a stylus with force feedback for virtual sculpting.

I don't remember the software they use, but it gives good results. I expect any failings are due to experience with the tools.

I imagine that GW use a Computer Measuring Machine to "scan" the figures into their software, then tweak and chop it up. Then they use it to create the sprue layouts.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Delephont wrote:...The CAD file replaces the traditional green?
or is the CAD file used to produce a pre mould model?
...can the files used be sent to a mould maker and converted into a working mould?

My final question.....does anyone know what the program is? is it availible on the market?

Cheers guys!

I think they use a mix of all you suggest. Look at the assembly guides for anything they have created in the last few years.

I would bet that they are all pictures of their computer models.

Delephont wrote:The problem is, I'd hate to model a human body in a fully dynamic pose using any of those programs, I could use free surface modelling, but again, I'd have to do some complex and time consuming calcs to get what I would want, and even then, change management would be a nightmare using engineering parametric techniques!

That is why GW instead chooses to do a high-resolution 3-D scan of a model, and start with that, instead.

My father worked in the plastic dip and injection moulding business for 40 years (albeit not miniature related plastics). AutoCAD and it's variants were primarily used to design the metal tooling used in the plastic mouldin process rather than the design phase itself. So in terms of GW design, I would suspect they still sculpt from clay or whatever in the traditional manner. I would expect CAD to play a part in laying out and designing the minutiae of creating the casts.

I've been looking at the online documentation for 3ds Max and nothing in their sales blurb indicates its use for direct sculpting for "model" making....I was looking for an idicative that the program files could be "sent" to a production phase of some kind, but it seems to lean heavily towards image production only!!!

If GW is really producing a green and then simply "scanning" it into a 3D enviroment for production assessment, then I would say the use of CAD is still very limited within the miniatures sector.....back to good old fashion sculpting then.

3D Studio Max, SoftImage XSi and Maya are the three programs most widely used for modelling in the games industry.

Maya was developed from CAD software and is generally considered best for straight modelling. XSi is better for animation.That said, the differences between the systems have shrunk as time goes on, and there is not a lot to choose between them.

Max is popular because it's cheap and it's easy to write plug-ins for.

GW has been using it since uhm.. when did Medusa V come out again? Well since before that one, Jervis did a big standard bearer on it showing off a CAD of a support platform and a 3D design of both the Giant and Carnifex.

Wow, this thread has actually made me rage a little inside.

Protip: doing 3d models for computer games and virtually sculpting models to be cast as physical objects have practically nothing in common.

Anyway, 5 seconds in Google: http://www.allbusiness.com/manufacturing/machinery-equipment-manufacturing/8263794-1.html
Another 5 seconds: http://www.delcam.com/general/software/software.asp

@ Lord Blackfang

Are you stressed because I didn't use the wider net to find the answer or the fact that we weren't sure if 3ds MAX was the correct program to use?

Either way, thanks for your help, even if its offered with a blades edge.

there was something in a WD not long after the last eldar codex that showed some of thier mini's being worked on in 3D. But this is why (more recently) the quality of the product has gone up. Ok so have prices ^^
But its good to see a higher quality product when youve just finished crying over your deflated wallet

BoW- John