Feb 1, 2016 | By Kira
Adam Beane Industries, an American sculpture studio and manufacturing facility, has released a teaser trailer for a new 3D printing filament that can actually be sculpted after the 3D printing process. The tantalizingly mysterious Cx5 and Cx5s 3D printing filaments, to be launched sometime this year, promise to combine digital and traditional sculpting, bringing an unprecedented level of detail, customization, and craftsmanship to finished 3D printed products.
There are generally two kinds of sculptors in the world today: digital sculptors, who work with CAD tools to ‘carve’ three-dimensional shapes and textures out of on-screen models for 3D printing or other purposes; and traditional sculptors, who get their hands dirty, physically manipulating, working, and re-working wax or clay materials into their desired shape. Both methods have pros and cons: for instance, digital sculpting (which creates the basis for 3D printing), allows for technological precision and unique architectural structures, yet once printed, the 3D objects are fixed—unlike traditional clay sculptures that can easily be re-heated and smoothed over in case of a mistake. Some would also argue that digital sculpting lacks the fulfillment and satisfaction of working with ones hands and of being able to modify and transform the object as you go.
As for traditional sculpting, limitations include the need for a wide variety of materials and tools to achieve the desired level of detail. Adam Beane, a master sculptor known for creating highly realistic portraits and founder of Adam Beane Industries, was all too familiar with these shortcomings, and decided to use his background in chemistry and industrial design to create a brand new sculpting material that would combine the high-volume production and precision properties of digital sculpting, with the malleability and craftsmanship of traditional sculpting techniques.
The result was Cx5 and Cx5s, unique sculpting materials that handle like clay when warm (it is workable at 125° F), hardens like plastic when cool, and can be continuously manipulated, texturized, and even re-used depending on your needs or design direction. The main difference between the two is that while Cx5 is quite hard when cooled, Cx5s remains somewhat moldable even after cooling.
According to Adam Beane Industries, Cx5 was designed to replace sculpting clays, finish waxes and prototyping plastics. As a non-toxic, all-natural, skin- and food-safe finish material (meaning it can be primed and painted, but is never final because it can always be edited, or even melted down and reused), Cx5 is ideal for achieving a high level of detail without compromising quality, functionality or malleability.
Now, Adam Beane Industries is taking its innovative sculpting material to new heights by bringing it straight into the 3D printing market. Though no official launch date has been released, the company has announced brand new Cx5 and Cx5s 3D printing filaments that will allow users to 3D print their digital sculptures, and then finish them with hot-sculpting and traditional sculpting techniques.
The teaser trailer for this sculptable 3D printing filament shows a 3D printed T-rex head, (with the telltale, visible layers of an FDM 3D printer at work), being first smoothed down, and then manipulated with a variety of metal and hot-sculpting tools, until its surface is completely transformed, from the standard 3D print finish, to ultra-realistic dinosaur skin. Trust us--it's something you have to see to beleive.
Though Adam Beane Industries has yet to release any additional details regarding the ‘secret’ 3D printing filament’s formula, 3D printing settings, 3D printer compatibility, or even price, this sculptable 3D printing filament is nevertheless one of the more exciting and practical innovations we’ve seen in the desktop 3D printing material market, with tons of applications from classroom 3D printing right on up to professional artistry.
Check out the video to see Adam Beane’s sculptable 3D printing filament in action, and stay tuned with 3Ders.org for upcoming details regarding the product’s official launch.
Posted in 3D Printing Materials
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c5x is wax of carnauba from brazil...
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