Printing the Gears version of myself with the Form1 printer

[Zazzy]

I am Patrick, 3D artist at Zazzy. Zazzy allows you to easily create your own customized 3D printed jewelry - I create stuff like the base 3D models that customers can then customize themselves.

When the Zazzy team was at the Blender Conference we ran into @bartv from Sketchfab. He was making some cool 3D scans from people attending. Bart was using an iPad with a Structure attachment to make the 3D scans. I got a 3D scan from the shoulder up, which meant that if I wanted to make some kind of super hero of myself, I’d have to find a body first.

I decided to get some armor from Gears of War. Usually game assets aren’t suitable for 3D printing, with thin walls, non-manifolds and geometry without volume. So the body needed an update. I imported the model into Blender and started fixing it up. And of course the head got replaced by mine to create the ultimate hero.

To save some resin I made the model hollow and poked holes at some awkward places (every super hero needs a sad backstory). Sadly, the solidify modifier didn’t quite work with this as vertices would explode and go everywhere so I just extruded a cylinder and followed the shape of the body, allowing at least 1mm wall thickness.

To print the model we used the Form1 printer with a nice clear resin. The print took 2 hours, with the model being 6.5 centimeters tall (a bigger one will also be printed, will post that later as well as the print results!)

[Zazzy]

Here are some pictures of the finished model with and without the support material.

[bartv]

Hey Patrick,

I featured your story on BlenderNation:

Using a 3D scan to turn yourself into an action figure

There’s a question about a close-up picture of the printed face, maybe you can leave a reply?

Thanks!