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multihawk β Futuristic Military APC - Printed!
Published: 2013-09-08 19:37:27 +0000 UTC; Views: 1180; Favourites: 8; Downloads: 8
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Description
I recently ordered one of my creations on Shapeways and it came a couple days ago!So far I'm really satisfied for a couple of reasons:
First is that the plastic is sturdy. I expected it to be flimsy but I was proven wrong!
Second is that I love how the details show up even at such a small scale such as the ports on the sides.
Overall I think this is a worthy investment and I'll definitely purchase more in the future!
Here's a link to my Shapeways store:
www.shapeways.com/shops/mechvoβ¦
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Comments: 25
I am going to comment on this in a manner you probably didn't expect...
First, HOW could you make a model with all the gratuitous detail work and... NOT ADD A HATCH?!
Second, with the ability they have to do such fine detail work, WHY didn't you ask them to make the wheels separately? With a steady hand, a drill, and a pin, you could have made a... for lack of a better term, match box car (wheels that turn).
Missed opportunities!Β
It's great that you got one of your concepts made in real life, but I agonize over that you didn't seek to take more advantage out of it.
Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention though. A trifle on the expensive side, but there are ways to reduce cost from what I have seen on the applicable website. I presume you made your model with sketchup since you submitted it to that group here on dA, but the makers of the printed plastic model seem to suggest that an alternate software (their's) needs to be used. Is this the case or could they work directly from sketchup?
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Agreed, didn't expect such a comment xD
As for the hatch, this was a quick model so I didn't think of all details to put in, if that makes any sense.
As for the wheels, it is my fault since I figured at this scale it wouldn't be necessary and that it would only add to the cost. Not only that, if a certain extra component (such as wheels) is too small, then Shapeways can't print it (at this scale, the wheels are reaaally small).
And yes, everything I do for Shapeways is with Sketchup. As for the alt software, it's not their's, but it's one that would help to see if a model is watertight or not; Accutrans 3d as I recall. If a model isn't watertight, then it can't be printed. They suggest another program (not theirs) that would convert the sketchup file (.skb) into an .stl to allow it for 3d printing. However I was able to find a direct plugin for sketchup for that exact task.
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No! It doesn't make any sense at all. 
Oh. Really? I sort of went over their pricing and thought that is was just based on weight alone. They don't look THAT small, maybe just 1/5 the size of a quarter... I saw some micromachines that looked smaller... ???
Aha, so it's .stl that they need? I'll look around for that myself. I don't think I could run that program on my little wheezer. It's sort of maxed out as it is... Well, not "their's" their's but one they need to do what they do, that's why I said "their's".
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I'll remember to put hatches on my next model ;D
Honestly I'm not really sure how their pricing system is, as in if it's based on weight. It depends on the material, as evident here:
www.shapeways.com/materials?liβ¦
As for micro machines, I do recall seeing super tiny wheels on most of their vehicles since I used to collect them a while back. I do recall that after a certain threshold Shapeways won't be able to print.
There's a trial for accutrans 3d; the program is less than 100mb I believe. Test it and see if it works!Β
Regarding ''their's'', I see what you mean
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Hazzah! I can sleep nights now!
No, of course, material and finish adjust the pricing too.
Well, they had these micromachines, I forget exactly where, that could fit on the center of your pinkie nail with plenty of nail surrounding it. It was some sort of microfan or at least there was a fan-blade built onto it.
I couldn't find what I was thinking of, but I found a rubix cube www.shapeways.com/model/503955β¦ that is 6mm edge to edge, which is a little under 1/4", and if you know what a rubix cube is, it is made up of 3 parts across that 1/4" or 2mm for each part of the cube. 2mm is; relatively, 1.5 dime thicknesses thick.
Since then, they changed their policy and the smallest they will make something in "frosted ultra detail" is 12mm. They can print smaller, but the workability of the smaller parts is questionable at best.
Thanks. I'll look into it but seriously, i don't think you know how wobbly a legs my PC is on. It really isn't meant to be doing graphics, and yet, there I am...
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Hmm, I don't recall such micromachines, but damn do they sound interesting.
Yeah, I can see why they wouldn't be able to print such a thing. I completely agree with what you said about workability of some certain tinier pieces. To add to your point, they can print smaller but with different materials. In the past I tried to have Shapeways print one of my other models, specifically my Vulture Jet Fighter in White Strong and Flexible and since the wings didn't exceed a certain threshold, they couldn't do it and they refunded me. I believe for White Strong and Flexible that the minimum threshold for printing is .7mm and above. Needless to say the wings on my jet were less than that.
Regarding your PC, that's a classic problem my friend.
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If you go to the page and click "maker/DIY" then go to "mechanical parts", you'll see 41 pages of parts and some are quite small. I went back there to find what I was talking about and... after 15 pages, grew unbelievably bored. The pages load so slowly that I wish they made a listing instead of thumbnail pictures.
Long story short (too late) I'll concede that it might not have been on this website, but saw it on another website from another printed parts company that I went to after doing some investigation (after seeing your APC and the associated services). I sometimes do that to find out price comparisons for services rendered, etc. I might have seen another printer who DID such an object and thats all I remember.
"white strong and flexible" plastic is their cheapest material, isn't it? Well, I would contrare' with the 7mm (you meant 7mm and not .7mm, right?) because I've seen "plates" (flat plastic parts) that must have been at least 1 or 2mm thick (hmm, maybe you did mean .7mm? hmm...). I found the largest they will make is around 18"-21" (I hate working with metrics. Nobody (in the US) can relate to metrics without bringing familiar sized items to associate size/weight. bleh. The point is, after seeing your APC, and reminded that they can do plastic printing (I actually heard about it first some 20 years ago). I am entertaining how "large" they can make parts and how thin I can make the walls of those parts (to reduce cost as much as feasibly possible to make one of my models. I am expecting a price range of about $600-1000. I'd have to polish my model making skills a little bit first though.
Well, this is a temporary replacement computer which replaced my last computer that WAS built for graphics, but melted. I am hesitant now to push this one when I see it start to wobble...
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Hmm, yes, Shapeways have been acting up lately. Reasons are unknown to me.Β
I know what you mean regarding checking out other printing sites. I have done some comparisons myself. So far I found Shapeways to be the cheapest but at the cost of having limitations on what is printable, such as the teeny tiny rubix cube above or my fighter jet miniature. I would admit that I haven't checked out too many printing sites, as in I only compared maybe 1 or 2 and made my assumption. I can be totally wrong and that there can be another site where it's cheaper to print the things I've designed.
White strong and flex is one of their cheapest. Some of the ceramics are cheap as well. Sandstorm itself is the cheapest but at the cost of strength and detail level according to the site.Β
Yes, I meant .7mm. I was able to have Shapeways print some sections of other models with walls around 1mm-2mm like you said.
I agree with you about the metrics thing. When I modeled my APC above plus other vehicles in my store I had toΒ Β constantlyΒ pull out my old micro machine toys and miniatures from other wargames to manually measure and to compare scale to get a sense of the size I want my minis' to be in.
May I ask what are you making? For something costing triple to quadruple digits it must be something intense.
Oh dear, poor computer
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I HAD done some looking around at other companies, but this one seemed the most up-front in providing their pricing, etc. There might be another that is cheaper, but not where they are telling their prices, right out of the gate, or I didn't see their webpage. For me for now, shapeways will do.
Okay, I guess I misunderstood what you had said earlier ...on a couple of instances 
hrm... yes, I COULD tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
However, while I can't direct you to a page of the image of the model, I wouldn't mind telling you what it looked like, since the wing configuration itself is not creatively "original". It was a gull wing, forward swept, powered glider. I am curious if it REALLY would work ("glide" that is). If not, and that IS a very real possibility, then I could still use the model to pitch the story concept it was to be used in, to a TV producer. Props like that, sometimes, can sell an idea better than words or pictures.
The fuselage itself would be about 9 inches long, and the wings would be about 18 inches wide (tip to tip).
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Agreed, because of how upfront Shapeways is, I doubt I'll be switching any time soon.
A glider, eh? Sorry about that plagiarism incident. Damn shame.Β
Not gonna lie, making a prop for a story and showing it off to a TV producer sounds awesome. I really hope it gets the green light!
Hmm, I can see it costing that much due to the size of the glider and the material.
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Well, understand, that I have only roughly estimated the cost, and that based on white strong flexible in 2mm format. Basically it would be like a model airplane, though I think I allowed for the polished version. Also, since it has a canopy, part of it would be the translucent plastic (I forget shapeways term for it). Likewise, mine would use ROLLING WHEELS (among other moving parts) and I wouldn't forget the HATCH!
Sorry, couldn't resist putting that in.
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Polished materials cost more to print I believe, according to Shapeways.
Rolling wheels and a hatch are a must for something at that scale!!
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understood. but for a show piece for that sort of presentation, I think a polished piece would be more of a natural?
LOL
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Agreed, I also think that a polished piece would look Β more professional.
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Nice werk. It's always nice to see someone's dreams come to life.
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Thanks! And I agree completely!
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