1. 3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Anna Gerber
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
2. Outline
• Tonight: 3D Sculpting Action Heroes
– Generating base models
– Slicing into parts & adding joints
– Customizing via 3D sculpting tools
• 3D Printing Action Heroes
– April 17th
– Preparing parts for 3D printing
– 3D printing
– Cleaning up 3D printed parts
• Adding electronics to 3D printed Action Heroes
– April 24th
– Make them interactive
– Electronics & coding
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
3. Generating Base Models
• Use character mesh generators to save time:
• Make Human
– Free & Open Source
– http://www.makehuman.org/
– License of generated characters: CC0
• Mixamo Fuse (Now owned by Adobe)
– https://www.mixamo.com/fuse
– Free preview requires Adobe account
– Royalty free use of generated models allowed for 3D
prints but you cannot sell the generated models
directly
• AutoDesk Character Generator
– http://area.autodesk.com/products/charactergenerator
– Free & Paid Subscription service
– Unrestricted usage of generated models
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
4. Other sources for models
• Thingiverse
– http://www.thingiverse.com/
– Use Creative Commons licensed models
• Model Resource
– From games, for personal use only
– http://www.models-resource.com/
• Create a model of someone's head
– Use 123DCatch app to create model from photos
• http://www.123dapp.com/catch
– Use a Kinect & Microsoft's 3D Scan app
• (Windows only)
• http://microsoft.com/3d
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
8. Export the character model
• Export model as OBJ format model
• AutoDesk Character Generator exports FBX –
convert these to OBJ using AutoDesk FBX
Converter or other 3D software
• Online converter:
– http://www.greentoken.de/onlineconv/
• We're using AutoDesk Meshmixer for 3D Sculpting:
– http://www.meshmixer.com/
– Free software for Windows, Mac or Linux
• Alternative sculpting programs include Sculptris & Z-
Brush
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
9. Import OBJ model to Meshmixer
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
10. Scales
You'll need to scale your model to Action Hero
size. Popular scales:
• 1:4 (18") common for collector dolls
• 1:6 (12") i.e. original G.I. Joe scale
• 1:10 (7") currently the most popular size
• 1:12 (5 -6") 90s Action Toys
• 1:18 (4") kids action figures e.g. Star Wars
We'll use 1:10 scale i.e. around 15 – 18 cm tall
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
11. Scale Model in Meshmixer
• Adjust scale via Edit > Transform so that the model
is around 15 – 18 cm tall
• Red = X
• Green = Y
• Blue = Z
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
12. Ball Joints
• We're using a ball joint system:
– Ball joints fit into sockets
– Parts held together with elastic
• Alternative joint systems include:
– Print-in-place ball joints
– Snap together joints
e.g. see Open Source Action Figure
by Jason Welsh
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:116571
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
13. Slice model into parts
• Use the Plane cut tool to separate limbs
• Use Select brush then Edit > Separate for more
control
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
14. Add balls joints to parts
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Add ball, use Transform tool to scale to appropriate size and move into position
15. Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Combine & Make solid, then use sculpting tools to refine model & blend joint onto part
16. Joints for elbows & knees
• Elbow & knee joints can be created as separate
parts if desired, for maximum flexibility
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
17. Add sockets to parts
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Place ball (slightly larger than joint ball),
then use boolean diference to subtract
18. Hollow out parts
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Also use boolean difference to
Create hollows in parts
19. Add holes for elastic
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Use a cylinder and boolean difference,
Use sculpting tools to round edges
20. Split head cap from head
• Use select brush for precise selection or use
slice tool for flat cut
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
21. Hollow out head & eyes & add magnet
mounting points
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
22. Customize parts
• Use sculpting tools to refine and modify parts
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
23. Next steps
• Drop into the Fabrication Lab or download
Meshmixer at home to continue working on the
models:
– http://www.meshmixer.com/download.html
• If you will be participating in the 3D printing
workshop, please bring your models along then
• We'll be focusing on preparing the models for
printing, exporting to STL, and printing them on
the 3D printers
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
24. License
• This slide desk was authored by Anna Gerber,
April 2016 and may be shared or adapted under
a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike (4.0
CC-BY-SA) license:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Anna Gerber
3D Sculpting Action Heroes
Editor's Notes
Intro section: 10 minutes
Introductions, housekeeping
In this hands-on two hour beginner’s class we’ll:Generate customised 3D human models using MakeHuman
Slice up a 3D model and add articulated joints using Meshmixer’s slice and merge tools
Use Meshmixer’s 3D sculpting tools to customize 3D parts
We'll cover how to sculpt the figure
It actually takes longer than 2 hours to create a completely custom figure
You are welcome to come into the Fab Lab during opening hours to keep working on your models, or you can download the software at home
Other alternatives exist for scanning with Mac
Note how "blocky" the models are – low poly
Print in place very cool in principle, but difficult to clean up parts / paint etc