/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>8657920
Still too new to depend on, best to use if you have a school lab that includes one near you instead of dropping money on.

I still want one though, and the technology club at my college is doing a lecture on them soon.
>pic related, a 3D printed cosplay

I'd love to use one to print really detailed/complicated armor instead of worbla and foam. I hope they become more prevalent and easier to access, since I can't really justify owning one at the moment

>>8657920
As someone who has worked with 3d printers, I can tell you they are not ideal for printing parts of cosplay simply because to get decent detail levels, you have to go to very expensive ones. For now I'd say stick to more traditional methods of crafting

>>8657947
I keep thinking it would be good if universities or colleges that had them would like rent them out or you could pay the students for them to make it or something. Would work out cheaper for you than buying one and be experience and a bit of money for the students!

for small props the less expensive ones can work if you print in pieces then attach everything, but you really have to be good with the 3D software to make it work and look good

>>8657924
Any more 3D printed cosplays to share?

My boyfriend's company just got several 3D printers to demo. I don't think they've been unboxed and set up yet but I'll ask if he's tried it out yet. The printers are small so I don't think they'd be the best for props tbh. Maybe for little accessories or detailed pieces to add onto a larger item, but that would be about all.

>>8658099
Sure, there's some good stuff out there. You have to keep in mind that these things have a lot of finishing that go into them, they don't print out smooth and perfect.

>>8658278

>>8658280

>>8658283

>>8658288

>>8658290

>>8658295

>>8658280
Hnnngg that Gabriel tho
>>8658283
98% sure that's not 3D printed

What a time to be alive

>>8658288

probably like 20% of that is actually printed. the rest is worbla&shit

I do a bunch of 3D printing, myself. The main thing I noticed is that many people seem to think that they are like star trek replicators where you just say "I want armor" and then perfect armor comes out for you. there is still a lot of work and skill needed. And even after all the modelling and printing is done, even if your print has very minimal extrusion lines, it will still take some manual work to get a proper finish and completed look to it.

>>8658456
The caption for the picture was
>This guy won best in show! That thing is 3d printed! Not sure who he is but it was wonderful.
but otherwise I can't confirm.
>>8658477
The helmet, shoulder pads, chest plate, gauntlets and arm cannon are 3D printed, the rest is indeed stuff like worbla.

>>8658503
As far as sanding goes, would you say it's easier or harder than sanding resin? Also, I've heard that the plastic can be a bit fragile, is it better to print larger designs (eg armour) than smaller, delicate things (specifically Grief Seeds from PMMM)?

>>8658678
It's by TemjinTBW who posts here, it's not 3D printed.

>>8659459
The fragility, or lack thereof, all comes down to the type of plastic you use, and the infill you set your printer to. If you use PLA and make it mostly hollow, then, yeah, it'll likely snap and sanding it might even tear through it. Some high quality ABS, or any of the specialty filaments, set to semi, mostly, or solid infill will be really sturdy, and if you set it to the smallest extrusion setting, and have a decent printer, then sanding would be easy.

Here is an example of a project I worked on earlier this year. Everything except the handle part was 3D printed. The heart at the top of the head is meant to be somewhat faceted, but it could easily be printed rounder or sanded to be rounder, like the heart at the bottom, or the brooch.

>>8658107
>The printers are small so I don't think they'd be the best for props

you build up large items in sections that you print out.
youre not printing everything all at once in one go.

Where do you guys get the blueprints for the cosplay from? Do you make them or find them online? Is so where and if not how did you make them?

>>8661148
If by blueprints, you mean 3D models, then some are found online, but most things are custom made. There are 3D models for Iron Man suits and maybe some Batman stuff, but aside from that, most things would have to be made by or for you, and you make them the same way you make any 3D model.

>>8658283
>>8659629
I wish I could afford a 3D printer. Though honestly I'd just use it to make smaller detail parts and what not. All my stuff is by hand, I hardly even use power tools. I'm kind of a dinosaur.

Printing big parts on current machines is too expensive and takes alot of cleanup to get looking good. You'd get better & faster results with more conventional methods.

For smaller things like props though this technology is advancing at a startling pace. I expect to see it alot more in the next few years as cost lowers and detail/accessibility improves.

>>8659706
Thanks, this is really useful. Also, your work looks super neat.