The Business of Art & Creative Strategy

This is what happens when towers fall and the printer keeps...

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:09:05 -0700

This is what happens when towers fall and the printer keeps extruding! It’s a hairy building … Or art-chitecture ;) #3dprinting #lambchop

Excited to go to Maker Faire in San Mateo this weekend!...

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:26:39 -0700

Excited to go to Maker Faire in San Mateo this weekend! It’ll be part of a two week work/pleasure road trip that will include doing some grassroots promo at Telluride Mountain Film Festival for Xpedition.tv.

But first, I’m going to see this famed PCH, Big Sur, and explore, talk to, meet and mind meld with many, many Makers!!! Can’t wait!

Pieces of another print #lambchop is working on! It’s been...

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:09:02 -0700

Pieces of another print #lambchop is working on! It’s been a busy weekend!! #architecture #3dprinting #makerbot (at A-Team HQ)

Awesome YHWH customs!! #vinyl_toy #markryden (at TAG (Toy Art...

Sat, 11 May 2013 20:50:28 -0700

Awesome YHWH customs!! #vinyl_toy #markryden (at TAG (Toy Art Gallery))

Guess what City this is going to be? Hint: it’s in Asia...

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:30:53 -0700

Guess what City this is going to be? Hint: it’s in Asia #3dprinting #lambchop

This is Camilla’s YHWH custom for tomorrow’s show at...

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:31:46 -0700

This is Camilla’s YHWH custom for tomorrow’s show at TAG. Close up and more info is available on Camilla’s blog: Camilla’s Mark Ryden YHWH For TAG / Camilla D’errico Blog

And to see all the pieces in the show, check out TAG’s blog: http://www.toyartgallery.com/shows/current-shows/mark-rydens-yhwh-custom-group-show-preview/

Spring Arts Collective on this monthly Art Walk night DTLA (at...

Thu, 09 May 2013 20:50:10 -0700

Spring Arts Collective on this monthly Art Walk night DTLA (at Spring Arts Tower)

Finished and painted print courtesy of #lambchop #3dprinting...

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:51:38 -0700

Finished and painted print courtesy of #lambchop #3dprinting #sciarc

Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:30:20 -0700

Mark Ryden’s YHWH Group Custom Show:

Lambchop Diaries Week 5

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:30:00 -0700

So far I’ve learned that by the time the 3D printer is actually plugging away at creating objects, you’ve reached 3^rd base and are running for the home plate (still fraught with anxiety, anticipation and the very real chance you won’t make it – to finished print).

Before you can physically print your lovely object, it must exist in a printable 3D file (usually .stl or .obj), which means it must be designed in a 3D modeling program. Not a 3D designer or don’t feel like learning a new skill? You can still play with 3D printing.

A lot of people are accessing free and paid downloadable files to print from sites - repositories they are called – such as www.thingiverse.com, http://www.cgtrader.com, http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/3D-Models/free, and of course, http://www.shapeways.com.

But that’s not nearly as much fun as designing your own right? Right! So what program are you going to use? Rhino, Z-Brush, Maya, Mudbox? Hands up if you know how to use Photoshop?! Well, that won’t help.

So if you’re a 3D modeling whiz or want to try your hand, you can design the file yourself but please, for everyone’s sake, make sure the files are actually printable! That goes for what is on those repositories too! No holes in the geometry (make it watertight), no double surfaces, no floating objects (no we cannot print something in mid-air), check the surface normal direction and use lots and lots of solid meshes.

Word of warning: the files you pull down from the online repositories aren’t going to be perfect – or even printable for that matter. In fact, many have all the problems I’ve listed above. I know a few pro 3Dsculptors/designers who tried to use these as base files to then modify and customize their own objects, but there was so much fixing to do they were better off starting from scratch.

This is a rampant problem with free 3D files online – you get what you (don’t) pay for. Designers and modelers who are proficient with 3D modeling and software are reading this nodding their heads violently. They spend most of their time fixing clients’ files (and that’s a heck of a lot of time spent – it’s tedious, highly detailed work). They are providing a professional service. They also know that designing for 3D printing is different from designing for other manufacturing or finishing processes. Therefore if you want to print something for additive manufacturing (3D printing) make sure that your file is built solidly for that specific output.

This is a prototype of a new headphone set - made in America, 3D...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:30:00 -0700

This is a prototype of a new headphone set - made in America, 3D printed, laser cut and styled like a graffiti piece. There’s nothing you can’t make if you put your heart into it! BTW you can buy a set on Kickstarter - http://kck.st/10DLlaf

camilladerricoart: Camilla d’Errico’s Hear Danielle...

Sun, 05 May 2013 12:52:12 -0700

camilladerricoart:

Camilla d’Errico’s Hear Danielle Roar

Camilla is donating this month’s proceeds of the “Hear Danielle Roar” print to the Non-Profit, Walking For Lions: http://www.walkingforlions.org/home/4575224711

Getting inspired with interior decor #furniture #design (at...

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:22:29 -0700

Getting inspired with interior decor #furniture #design (at Craig Olsen)

Coolest dog ever! #firstfriday #abbottkinney #dog #coolestdog...

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:20:00 -0700

Coolest dog ever! #firstfriday #abbottkinney #dog #coolestdog (at First Friday)

Another mysterious architectural print for one of the...

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:39:18 -0700

Another mysterious architectural print for one of the students’ projects. Turned out really well! #lambchop #3dprinting #3dmodel #sciarc #rapidprototyping

Lambchop Diaries Week 4

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:16:00 -0700

Watching Andrew and Lambchop in action for the past few weeks has been the single biggest learning experience for me. I learn a lot by reading, and by others’ explanations, but until I see/feel/do something, it’s just a theory with many “shoulds” and unrealistic expectations. So my first few trips to see Lambchop were real eye openers for me. I also got a little giddy; I do love technology!

I’m an entranced five year old hearing cute little robot sounds, watching lights, movement and something magically building from nothing. I’m also studying this magic box, fingers crossed that the object will print properly; we’ve been running complex prints that have taught us (and our customers) the value of clean files, support material and proper positioning of the object on the bed to obtain the best print quality.

When you think of a printer, you think of the “print” button and then walk away. In this case, there’s so much more involved than just sending a file to print. We’re spoiled with desktop paper printers we all know and use on a daily basis. If a Desktop 3D Printer were even a fraction as easy to use as a Desktop Paper Printer, then a first grader could run this machine. The truth is that is far more complicated, finicky, and delicate. It requires a deep understanding of 3D modeling, of technology, and manufacturing processes and materials.

The vocabulary alone is staggering. Here I thought I was all smarty-fancy-pants and knew terms like calibration, resolution, heating plate…no, I did not. Filament, extruder, mesh, spool, print head, build bed, raft,support material, PLA, ABS … that’s just the beginning. That’s the kindergarten level.

So the learning curve continues, my vocabulary is expanding, and now that we’ve got a lull in students’ project needs we’ll be able to experiment with some of our own things and run test prints too.

My underwater masterpiece! #art #datenight

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:09:04 -0700

My underwater masterpiece! #art #datenight

Another 3D print we made for SCIARC grads - close up....

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:49:27 -0700

Another 3D print we made for SCIARC grads - close up. #architecture #3dprinting #prototype #3dmodel

#basemanshouse is huge! So much fun in every room. (at Skirball...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:27:12 -0700

#basemanshouse is huge! So much fun in every room. (at Skirball Cultural Center)

This is what you do with leftover support material from 3D...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:31:05 -0700

This is what you do with leftover support material from 3D Printing … Graphite and paint and make it into some abstract piece of art!