Phase III: May I introduce Mena Oris, High Elf, blade artist

No, I didn't so far. At least I know the quality of printed parts from Shapeways. So this will be my reference. I will just ask them for the costs.

 

Well, she IS imprssive! I couldn't resist to make a few photos with my shitty tablet:

At her side good old Lara Croft with a hight of 38 cm including pedestal.

 

Well, I started Mena Oris V02. She is scaled down to 80% wich means 1:2.5 (800 mm tall). The reason for that is, that I don't want to split her hips and upper body vertical. Soon the printer will be tuned up a bit. That will help to improve quality dramatically.

 

Okay, I finished slice and repair of the new Mena Oris 800 mm (1:2.5 scale). Just to get waterproof printable parts without vertical cuts.

From the former 1000 mm model I've learned that its a bit tricky to assemble the figure in a correct way. I need some help for position the parts correctly to each other. Additional I want to assamble them temporary only because I want photos of the single parts. Something to code the right position and keep the single parts together without clue them.
Oh wait! This sounds really like LEGO - lol! Yep, that's the idea: Make a LEGO-Mena Oris! I can put LEGO-like connection elements to each part at the cutting sites. Hell yeah!
What I've learned from my test-prints with 2x4-LEGO-bricks it should work. This sounds pretty amazing for me and offers a couple of additional possibilities like change her weapons ...

 

Actually nearly at the age of 62 I don't really need "kid friendly" stuff - neither for me nor for my 35 and 38 years old kids ;-) And the grandchild will become 2 tomorrow - a bit young for 3d-printing. Usually such devices aren't very usefull - like "kid computers". Better the kids learn to use the printers of the parents when they are ready for that. LEGO bricks are a good example since the kids can manufacture their own toys. I assume good 3d-models of many LEGO-bricks will be available in internet (http://tf3dm.com/3d-model/lego-all-sizes-colors-94903.html). And the exciting part for kids (and adults) would be to be able to design own special bricks wich fit to the system.

Regarding myself: I would print all bricks I want (except the small Technic Connectors) by myself if I would like to build LEGO models. That would be way cheaper than original bricks. And since I'm able to make every 3d-model via CAD by myself it would be easy. But seriously: When I'm able to make correct 3d-models of something why should I make a LEGO version instead a model of a scaled real model? Print LEGO bricks is for LEGO freaks ;-)

Note: It is not allowed to use the LEGO trademark for own products. The brick patents expired. But the trademark is still protected. Even that "LEGO"-like "ULLA"-logo wouldn't be allowed, because it's kinda citation of the original.

 

Well, I don't want to build a LEGO-model of my TESO-avatar. But I will use the brilliant system for the figure. Just at the cutting edges. Because it's a good possibility and fits best to my needs and I made some models already wich I can embed easily to old Mena's parts.
Phase IV will be a figure from TESO wich represents myself. With my original head. Something like this:

 

Ha! Tomorrow I will get the "improved" printer back. So I started to pimp the first parts. Let's see if this will work.

 

It works!
The LEGO-like connection is awesome. I just printed the right foot (as shown above) and tested it with the 2x4 bricks I printed lately. Pretty fixed. Hard to remove.
I print more solid parts now: higher wall thickness and more infill.
@narfi:


If everything works well from now on, we will end up in a pluggable 800 mm figure. Cross fingers!
... even easier painting and shipping if someone wants such a service ;-).

What I've learned from using the new printer during the last year is, you can't avoid to adjust each print so far - according geometry and material.

@Steven Jobs: Man, come back please. We need you so bad!
Believe me, this guy would have offered a user-friendly device (iPrinter) with creative software at the last keynote! Contrary to that lame Tim Cook.

I think we need better software. TBH I don't want to adjust each damn single part at the software and than during the printing process again. I mean, who the hell want to adjust each print at his flat (2d)-ink-splasher? We are just at the doorsill of a new eara. Many miles to go though at consumer market. But I'm optimistical. Next two years will be awsome!

 

I'm at the 3rd attempt with Mena's right knee! We REALLY need way better software for 3d-printing! Seriously, I don't want to care for temperature and speed details (what I have to do currently). The software must recognise problematic areas in the 3d-model and adjust all parameters to the current job. WTH do I have to decrease printer speed for critical areas manually?
Does anyone remember Kai's Power Tools or Bryce (Kai Krause)? I should try to contact him ...

Edit: Mail sent. Let's see ;-)

 

Cool, Kai Krause answered. I mean, that's the man who developed Bryce and such - lol.
Unfortunately it seems he earned enough money to be able to hang out relaxed at his castle. Finally he is'nt interested in becomming the next intuitive-3d-print-software-guru ;-) Sad for me but comprehensible.

 

Next level.
I have serious software problems. My 3D Studio Max 2016 is a pain in the ass regarding boolean operations and I cannot use my test-licence of Rhino 3D any longer. For now I don't use this LEGO-connections anymore. I want to finish my 1:2.5 scaled Mena (800 mm).
So here comes a small update: painting.

The hips (14.5 hrs print time - one part) are without LEGO already while the other parts still have it. A very interesting issue is still the sheer tallness: Small bad details from printing and painting will vanish as soon as you see the complete figure. At least I hope so ... ;-) btw Revell betried me: The blue colour is "MATTE 56". But it isn't matte. It's shiny :-(
Whatever, my birthday is at June 4th and my wife asked for wishes three days ago. That was the start of Phase IV while Phase III continous: My wish was a 3d-model of my real head. No sooner said than done my modeler sent pictures to me today. What shall I say? Holy shit, that's me! LOL!

Unbelievable! It's made from seven shitty photos. And it fits!
Time to think about this:

This is pretty expensive material copper and bronze with ~80% metal.
But as mentioned above: this would be Phase IV wich should lead to a 1:2.5 scaled model of an online-avatar with a RL head. Something like this:

 

Faster than expected! I couldn't resist to start directly with the print yesterday evening. Well, I woke up at 9 in the morning hanging in my armchair in front of the printer.

I was really in luck when I found this modeler. His name is Eugene Petrov. Okay, Евгений Петров. But some of you can't read this I think. Have a look here:
https://www.artstation.com/artist/eugenep
My recommendation if you look for a good and fast modeler! (Four hours for the head - really crazy!)

 

I love the new metal material like BronzeFill. It enables me to print models in good quality wich are less tall. The plan is to print Mena Oris as ~320 mm figure with CopperFill material. So I asked Eugene for some small changes. It's mainly the pose. Here is the first result:

Hopefully I can realize it during this week with CopperFill! The painted 800 mm version must wait.

 

Aaaaaand here she comes:


350 mm high plus 10 mm baseplate, 380 g (~28 Euro), 20 hrs printing, 5 hrs finishing.