Anyway, guys, I caught an episode of How things work on Discovery and they were talking about 3D signs. I watched the whole segment and as usual was pretty facinated in an informative kind of way.
One thing I took note of was the top-down 3D shapes that were being cut with the routerand the router was controlled by software interpreting a 3D rendered image through I'm almost guessing industry standard program.

I was just imagining the rifles, pistols, helmets, and air packs being cut in sectional layers and then being reassembled for final props or mold production.


Anyone else thought of this route? It "might" even be financially feasable for other costume props as well I believe.

Nice idea but the only thing is to get one of those computer operated routers, something that I'm sure is not cheap, and then the software to control it. If there's a consumer version that's priced so that the average Joe could afford it would be great for those people who have (computer) 3D modeling skills but lack molding and casting skills but it might not be so great for people used to doing things the old fashioned way and modeling things by hand and then mold and cast it.

On a similar note, a while back I saw that some company was coming out with a consumer grade, desktop rapid prototyping machine but I haven't seen on it since though. It works similar to the router machine you're talking about but instead of a router it layers plastic one thin layer at a time building the model that you've created on the computer in CAD or similar program.

Speaking of this sort of tech, does anyone remember those machines that they used to have at the zoos that made wax or plastic animal "statues". I wonder if those machines could be bought for cheap and how easy there were to program, if they were it would be another way of creating prototype props for molding and casting.

We have a fellow over at the Aliens Legacy foprums who does rapid prototyping for a living,
and from what he's said the process is time consuming and VERY expensive.

The company who makes the 3d models of player's Wold Of Warcraft characters
stated in an interview that the cost per prototype/3D Printer machine was between $15-25,000.

Nice technology... but still pretty expensive. Plus, as Phil mentioned, you need somone who
can accurately create the model in a 3D CAD type program before you can even think about printing it.

The rapid prototypers I've seen also do NOT give you a smooth item. The edges are rather rough
and DO need final sanding/finishing. The 3D printer however uses ink impregnated plastics and
from what I've read, gives you a finished image with built in color.

Neat technology whatever you end up with.

Russ

full 3D prototyping is kind of where I was thinking with this tangent, but I'm looking at the typical sign we see out there above a store. Some are intricate, some are not. In my mind I saw the rifle made in two parts, a helmet made in 4 or 5, and like the jetpack made in 3 pices.

(researching) ... (elapsed time)

hmm... looks more and more like the full idea of prototype designs and a-cag artists would be needed. hmm. well... more food for thought for the long run.

If you had a little money to spare and think you could maybe get a return on your investment there is a consumer grade 3D printer that goes for only $5,000 (as opposed to at least 2X as much for commerical models) and is desktop sized. The company expects the price to drop down to about $1,000 in a few years, that's assuming this actually takes off and the company is still around in a few years.

http://www.desktopfactory.com/

Alternately, there's something called Fab at Home which is a site that provides instructions on how to build your own fabber which will allow you to fabricate nearly anything at home. Once built you can download plans for fabricating various things in multiple materials, not just one like most rapid prototype machines.

http://fabathome.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page