Or even cannons with blast effects.

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The best part of shapeways is they can do things with hollow centers, lots of holes, twist about, pretty much ANY 3D object. I plan on using them for prototyping, but some things I can design just aren't moldable so these give a nice alternative.

I have the Large scale Transformers gun coming in another shipment (gauss rifle), once it arrives you will see the largest gun I have uploaded.

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Great decision to make the 'jump' to this! I really have wanted to look into something like this. SO many questions and so little time.

Wow, that's very interesting!

That looks like a fun new hobby... expensive? and the material, when produced... how ridgid is it? is it strong? easy to break? is it flexible?

This is interesting. This can basically take over the sculpting phase of making guns and accessories and go right into just molding something. GI Joe sized guitars! Anything!

time to try this

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Be careful with the clear SLA material - is can be very, very brittle. I've done quite a bit of these at work. Worst experience with the clear stuff is I had a couple pieces made up, painted them myself, and take them into our program manager. While we are talking to him, some goof pics them up and clicks them together - sheering off a section of the model. Also, try to avoid very thin details - the machines might not have the resolution to grow properly.

Nevertheless, I might make up a few models to see how much they would cost. I've been waiting for someone to make SLAs affordable.

Thanks Morian, hmm maybe the better option then is to use this as a model makign tool instead of a 3d object making one.

So perhaps it is better to reverse out the design, into a mold and then cast the item.

any idea what sort of cost is involved?

I believe thats what Asphalt is doing with these...

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The transparent material is more than sturdy enough to hold up to regular handling, just don't have your figs sword fighting each other. I do plan on using this as a prototyping step for some mold work, but there are things you can so with the printing that you just can't do in a mold. For example I have 5 or six models uploaded that include working chain. Try to mold that. And some have long holes passing all the way through, like my backpacks. Things like swords and simple guns, simple packs, etc, yeah they will get purchased once and molded. But some will be shapeways only, it is just more cost efficient and less of a headache.

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I got another one of my models int he mail last night. My long Handled Kusarigama. I am really impressed with this, I can't believe I was able to model a working chain and that it printed flawlessly.

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I am having trouble uploading multiple pics for some reason.

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Okay that's just amazing looking. If it was Joe scale I'd buy several.

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Thanks SGC. I need to do some research on tolerances. I am not certain that a joe scale chain would be printable.

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I finally got around to shooting some of my joe scale models.
Here is my Necron Gauss Rifle.

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