I described his work as “taking scratch building to a whole new level” but stebbycentral suggested that ‘scratch building’ might not be the best term to describe the process.
So, my question is: What do you call the process of using a 3D printer to create a unique model?
Personally, I kind of favour the term ‘scratch building’ because the modeler is starting from scratch and is using basic materials. The two big differences are that the tool(s) being used can’t exactly be described as ‘basic’, and the skills are more intellectual than manual.
OK, let’s start the pot boiling![}:)] Your opinions and suggestions please.
We are witnessing the beginning of a whole new aspect of the hobby!
As 3d printing becomes more available to the general public I forsee many legal problems. It would be so easy to duplicate items that are under a copywrite.
As an example one site dealing with 3d printing was making duplicates of lego blocks.
Having said that I would get one should they become afordable for personal use.
I understand your concerns about misuse of the technology, but my question is not addressed to the thieves among us. This process will become relatively common place, although there is and will be a stiff entrance fee.
My point is that we need to include those who will use this process instead of dismissing them as copy cats. That description is unfair.
I often call it scratch building, though I can get away with it as I’m the designer.
The “CG” in my business name stands for “Computer Generated”. Perhaps electronic modeling or digital modeling would be appropriate terms. But I agree with Tom, I just call it 3d Printing or rapid prototyping. Both are terms that define themselves.
These printers are amazing and they’re getting better every day. This time last year, the Stagecoach would NOT have been possible. But now, well, check it out for yourself… It’s the size of a quarter!
I don’t think scratchbuilding is the appropriate term. Perhaps scratchforming would be closer - if the product is a three dimensional representation from an original design. If it’s just a copy of a stock item, then how about just forming. If it’s a copy of something somebody else designed, reproduced without permission, then the proper term is copyright infringement.
I find it interesting that at least two posters have raised the issue of copyright infringement. The 3D printing process is obviously vulnerable to that sort of exploitation. Perhaps here is where we need a legal opinion as to where personal use ends and copyright infringment begins. i.e. If I do one or two for myself is that an infringement vs if I made 50 copies and gave them to all my friends for a few bucks each. The answer seems clear to me.
Never the less, getting us into a legal mudhole was not my intention.
To re-phrase: What terms can we use to compliment a fellow modeler when they use 3D printing to produce a unique model. Mark Watson’s N scale models look pretty good to me. Do I simply say “nice keystrokes!”
I would be curious to know what data modelers like Mark Watson used to create their models. If they produced the data to make the models on their own then I don’t think we can argue with the “scratch” part of the description. If they simply scanned a physical object then the “scratch” part clearly doesn’t apply.
Anyhow, regardless of your opinion this type of modeling will become much more prevalent so ultimately we will have to come up with terminology suitable to the subject, so why not sort it out now.
I went to Mark’s website. He has his designs printed by Shapeways, which is one of the leading companys in the field. From Shapeways website:
Supported applicationsShapeways accepts designs in STL, OBJ, X3D, Collada or VRML97/2. This page lists the 3D Authoring tools that are known to export those file formats. If your tool cannot export to one of these formats, try converting your files with one of the following tools:
The best simile for my process is as a painter creates a portrait on canvas. One could simply* a use camera, however the 3D scanner “cameras” are up in the price range of the 3D printers themselves.
Additionally, the materials and printer capabilities present specific guide lines. Creating my designs by hand, from a blank screen enables me to optimize for printer/material capabilities. * That raw data produced by 3d scanner would require extensive tweaking for optimal printability (not so simple after all). For N scale, it’s far easier to start from scratch.
And since I just finished it up… here’s some more stagecoach eye candy!
First off, 3-D printing is not as easy as everyone thinks. You have to have some kind of background in 3-D modeling in some kind of CAD program to even get close to doing what Mark has been able to accomplish. Yes, there is google sketchup for free…but its pretty clunky compared to a professional program. Attached is a video of a train I built recently using 3-D printing. All the rack car superstructures were 3-D printed. The first six cars had a couple of the more difficult components 3-D printed, while the rest of the structures were built using traditional styrene. 3D printing is a geat companion to scratchbuilding…it does not have to replace it entirely.
The reality is; the process used, is pretty much the same as with most every other item manufactured today! A Computer Aided Design (CAD) program is generated on a computer, by a technician. This program is fed into a Computer Aided Machine (CAM) raw material is chucked/fixtured into the machine(maybe by robot) and various operations performed by the machine; or, a series of machines.
Maybe “Manufactured” could work as a descriptor, also?
We all have our own interests and it is wonderful to see the diversity amongst us!
I spend roughly 10-12 hours per day on a computer. 8-10 of those hours are at work. I feel I need my modeling interests to be detached from computers! I want to cultivate and explore my mental, physical and artistic skills by this hobby, sans computer.
Other’s using computers in the pursuit of this hobby, is fine, and I’m interested in viewing, just not interested in doing! Maybe I’m a hobby dinosaur?!?
When they first came out they were called Rapid Prototyping machines, used for Rapid Prototyping components to be reviewed by engineering before being given to the tool & die makers to make from the desired materials.
I call it Rapid Prototyped models.
However on the flip side, I no longer say I wil Xerox a copy for you, or PhotoStat a picture.
I would have to say no, Dave. 3D printing does not qualify as scratch-building because the printer is doing ALL of the “building”. For me, it falls into the realm of designing or design manufacturing.
Scratch-building - in whatever degree - involves a certain amount of hand skills of some kind. Other than inputting information into the printer’s program to tell it what to do, 3D printing is pretty much a “hands-off” experience.
I would disagree to a certain extent. I work with 3-D software on a daily basis doing engineering work to finance my train habit. While it’s not scratchbuilding in the traditional sense using physical materials, modeling something three-dimensionally in a virtual environemnt is simply utilizing a different skill set. You still have to be able to visualize the overall project and break it down into its individual components and subassemblies, and then put them all together. That’s no trivial thing. It could easily be called scratchmodeling, or more simply, just modeling.
Since I’m being blamed for this whole thing I may as well throw my [2c] in.
To begin I do think you can’t really call it “scratchbuilding”. To me that phrase requires the physical manipulation of materials in sub-assemblies to create a finished product.
Still, as my son is studying this technology in college, I am well aware that it is not at all in the same category as buying something in a box from a hobby shop, and ploppling it down on the layout. Heavy design skills and specific technical knowhow are required. So this is no accomplishment to sneeze at.
And to complicate the matter even further, the technology is currently available to 3D print in color. Meaning you can even skip the painting part of the process if you want to. (And have the $ to afford it!)
If we are taking a vote, I’m in favor of “replication” as previously suggested.
