June 22, 2014
We had previously seen 3Doodler being used to create impressive 3D printed RC plane, but another man, Justin Mattarocchia based in Somerville, Massachusetts, has created a life-sized Plastic Man (Aka. Voight) using 3Doodler, a pen that draws in 3D plastic.
Mattarocchia's goal was to develop and create artificial humanoid interactive sculptures using 3Doodler. He also did a Google image search for human skulls and body, and used images from different angles to help create parts of plastic man to get this sculpture to look and feel more human.
"I usually begin by sketching out some concepts and then looking around my house for objects, imagining what shapes could be used as components for my projects," Mattarocchia told 3Doodler. For the Plastic man sculpture's spine structure he used a cardboard tube as the foundation and print the ABS plastic on its surface. When the printing was complete, he was able to get the tube away from the spine. To get flexibility and cohesion in the structure he also added some nylon cord between segments so they can flex naturally like a real spine.
Using the 3Doodler is a lot like using a glue gun, but you are not limited to drawing on paper, you can just draw in the air. It gives you a lot of freedom for your imagination. For the face of plastic man Mattarocchia prefered to do a little more free hand. He explained:
"I started by drawing out on some foam core project board a rough face shape, laying out where the eyes, nose, and mouth would be. Then I traced over it with the 3Doodler and built off of that original outline. Getting curved features can be tricky mid air, especially if you don't have a form to work on, so I decided to think in polygons. I would form triangular shapes off the initial trace, and continued to build off them until a face feature was formed. Once the initial polygonal structure was in place, I could then either build off that, or fill it in, by running back and forth between the lines of the polygon."
"I love the freedom the 3Doodler offers me in creative design." Mattarocchia told 3Doodler. "It's an excellent tool, and when used in conjunction with other media, and even electronics, you can make your work really come to life."
The one of a kind, life size 3D printed human skeleton/automaton sculpture is shown at the Firefly Open Studios Velir gallery. Voight is equipped with a sparkling light up mind with integrated web-cam eyes, EL wired ribs, and articulating joints.
Mattarocchia also offers this first life sized hand 3d printed humanoid skeleton on Etsy for $100,000. A 3D printed articulating skull made from ABS plastic using the 3Doodler can be purchased for $300. Its jaw bone and upper skull can move open and closed to create an animatronic pet.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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