Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP

jentron · 4th March 2014, 08:13 PM

Shapeways asks, when uploading obj files at least, whether the dimensions are millimeters, inches or meters. So you have some options.

They made a suggestion to use flat-shading while modeling, more polygons are better. I think they have a million polygon limit per file.

Fine detail may be lost, the one plastic model I've done was pretty rough. So were the two rings I ordered in "gold steel". The ring I did in gold plated brass was very smooth, though.

Jentron

Edymnion · 6th March 2014, 12:09 AM

Haven't even finished one plate for one side of one half of the crossguards and already clocking in at 12k polys after a single subdivision. Thats more than the entire original sword had.

And good lord, its aftet 11:00. I've been working on that one lousy plate for nearly 6 hours.

Oh well, it'll be worth it. Least thats what I keep telling myself.

Maybe I can turn the old one into a Skyrim mod or something...

Edymnion · 6th March 2014, 03:26 PM

Crossguard Faceplate
Final Poly Count: 16,481
Est. Time Required: 10 hours

Next step, the crossguard core piece that the faceguards will fit onto. Ideally I'll be able to find enough shades of metallic PLA filament to print everything in the color it needs to be. If not, this will at least make painting everything easier.

And just as a point of reference, the old sword there in the middle was just under 11k polygons for the entire thing.

Edymnion · 6th March 2014, 06:18 PM

Crossguard Core
Poly Count: 10,868
Est. Time: 2 Hours

Edymnion · 15th March 2014, 11:29 PM

Got the crossguard core tweaked enough that the faceplates will fit onto it (as opposed to the walls of each being exactly the same, which means no way anything was sliding together in a physical print), and got the eye of thundera lens plates done.

First image is the original model next to whats done of the current model (along with the steel rod that will be the core of the print to give it strength), next to a representation of how big my actual print area will be.

Second image is just a money shot to look pretty.

--+edit+--
Interesting, the board seems to have converted the nice clear png for the second image into a blurry jpg. Oh well.

Edymnion · 16th July 2014, 04:15 PM

Boy, been forever since I've had time to work on stuff. Almost finished the sword kit.

Only things left to model are the center of the hilt that connects everything together, the sheath for the base of the blade on top of the hilt, and to put the gemstone on the bottom of the pommel.

Current poly count: 136.5k polies
Total piece count: 25 printed pieces, 15 rhinestones (modeled in pic for getting the settings sculpted), 1 steel welding rod (for support)
Overall length once printed and assembled: 4'4"

Other than that, my blasted 3D printer has been hit with manufacturing delays. For how cheap I got it from getting in on the ground floor, I can't complain too much, especially since I don't even have the sword done, but soon... soon I shall have my sword...

After its done, I'll have to model up a sheath for it!

Edymnion · 17th July 2014, 12:36 AM

Bah, perfectionism sucks when you aren't willing to let yourself be lazy. Pretty much decided to completely redo the pommel, which means the entire grip is getting redone. Which then means the faceplates around the eye aren't going to be good enough in comparison, which means I'll have to redo that inner core as well...

So yeah, basically throwing out everything I did this week and redoing it all because little things that only I would ever see weren't perfect.

Normally my real world projects get to the point where I'm too lazy to start over again and I just make do with what I've done. Having limited physical resources helps there too. Not so with digital. Only thing I waste by scrapping 2/3rds of a project is time...

Below you can see where I've redone the basic geometry of the pommel, redone the rhinestone socket, and started mapping out on the polygons the general shape of where to make the cuts that will become the various nubs, ridges, and ringwork. Pink will be a raised feature, while the blue is the exact wedge that will be rotated 72 degrees each so that I only have to do one set and then rotate it around to get the full repeating pattern all the way around.

4th March 2014, 08:13 PM	#1
jentron Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 139	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Shapeways asks, when uploading obj files at least, whether the dimensions are millimeters, inches or meters. So you have some options. They made a suggestion to use flat-shading while modeling, more polygons are better. I think they have a million polygon limit per file. Fine detail may be lost, the one plastic model I've done was pretty rough. So were the two rings I ordered in "gold steel". The ring I did in gold plated brass was very smooth, though. Jentron

6th March 2014, 12:09 AM	#2
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Haven't even finished one plate for one side of one half of the crossguards and already clocking in at 12k polys after a single subdivision. Thats more than the entire original sword had. And good lord, its aftet 11:00. I've been working on that one lousy plate for nearly 6 hours. Oh well, it'll be worth it. Least thats what I keep telling myself. Maybe I can turn the old one into a Skyrim mod or something... __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

6th March 2014, 03:26 PM	#3
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Crossguard Faceplate Final Poly Count: 16,481 Est. Time Required: 10 hours Next step, the crossguard core piece that the faceguards will fit onto. Ideally I'll be able to find enough shades of metallic PLA filament to print everything in the color it needs to be. If not, this will at least make painting everything easier. And just as a point of reference, the old sword there in the middle was just under 11k polygons for the entire thing. Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

6th March 2014, 06:18 PM	#4
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Crossguard Core Poly Count: 10,868 Est. Time: 2 Hours Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

15th March 2014, 11:29 PM	#5
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Got the crossguard core tweaked enough that the faceplates will fit onto it (as opposed to the walls of each being exactly the same, which means no way anything was sliding together in a physical print), and got the eye of thundera lens plates done. First image is the original model next to whats done of the current model (along with the steel rod that will be the core of the print to give it strength), next to a representation of how big my actual print area will be. Second image is just a money shot to look pretty. --+edit+-- Interesting, the board seems to have converted the nice clear png for the second image into a blurry jpg. Oh well. Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

16th July 2014, 04:15 PM	#6
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Boy, been forever since I've had time to work on stuff. Almost finished the sword kit. Only things left to model are the center of the hilt that connects everything together, the sheath for the base of the blade on top of the hilt, and to put the gemstone on the bottom of the pommel. Current poly count: 136.5k polies Total piece count: 25 printed pieces, 15 rhinestones (modeled in pic for getting the settings sculpted), 1 steel welding rod (for support) Overall length once printed and assembled: 4'4" Other than that, my blasted 3D printer has been hit with manufacturing delays. For how cheap I got it from getting in on the ground floor, I can't complain too much, especially since I don't even have the sword done, but soon... soon I shall have my sword... After its done, I'll have to model up a sheath for it! Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion.

17th July 2014, 12:36 AM	#7
Edymnion Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 203	Re: Sword of Omens for 3D Printer WIP Bah, perfectionism sucks when you aren't willing to let yourself be lazy. Pretty much decided to completely redo the pommel, which means the entire grip is getting redone. Which then means the faceplates around the eye aren't going to be good enough in comparison, which means I'll have to redo that inner core as well... So yeah, basically throwing out everything I did this week and redoing it all because little things that only I would ever see weren't perfect. Normally my real world projects get to the point where I'm too lazy to start over again and I just make do with what I've done. Having limited physical resources helps there too. Not so with digital. Only thing I waste by scrapping 2/3rds of a project is time... Below you can see where I've redone the basic geometry of the pommel, redone the rhinestone socket, and started mapping out on the polygons the general shape of where to make the cuts that will become the various nubs, ridges, and ringwork. Pink will be a raised feature, while the blue is the exact wedge that will be rotated 72 degrees each so that I only have to do one set and then rotate it around to get the full repeating pattern all the way around. Attached Thumbnails __________________ It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind in motion. It is by the syrup of cola that thoughts acquire speed, the ears acquire ringing, the ringing becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone that I set my mind into motion. Last edited by Edymnion; 17th July 2014 at 12:41 AM.