Wednesday 2 April 2014

Forge World using 3d printing.

Hi all. 
No model time recently sadly but thought I would share with you one of the interesting things I learned this Openday. Forge World has started using 3d printing to develop its models. Sorry if this is old news but thought I would share what I learnt. Speaking to 3 different designers I learnt that they have started using this technology to make the original master model that they then take casts from. 2 Tau Riptide size models and the new Lancer Knight are examples of this. They had access to the 3d cad sculpt from the Games Workshop range and so were accurately and easily able to create 3d modification parts for these kits or in the Lancers case totally remix and tweak. Blake Spence even used several components of 3d printing on his new board and another is planning a whole range of well known Knight houses' Heraldic shields. 
At the moment the speed of 3d printing means it is not possible to create whole a whole knight in less than 35 hours (if I recall), so casting is still the way they will keep going with it. 




Exciting times ahead. 

Drake Seta

7 comments:

  1. 3d printing is the future

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  2. I think this is a massive step forward for FW

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  3. I think 3D Printing is the present already. I dont think we would see so many Kickstarters if there was no 3D Modeling/Printing. GW utilizes it since years and you can rather easily find independant companies to print your 3D Models, so access to printing services got really easy. Though 3D modeling is its own craft to master its far easier and faster to learn than traditional putty sculpting.

    At an event I spoke to owner of a little company that makes a small but rather nice range of 1:100 models of WWII vehicles. Via the magic power of internet he found a digital sculptor in Thailand and prints his 3D Masters in the Netherlands, he lives in Germany.

    All in all I am happy about everything that helps FW and all the other companies to cater to my tabletop obsession : )

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  4. Thanks for all the news, I'm now holding off buying a knight until I can get this Lancer, so sweeeeet!!!

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    1. It fits in well with the other 2 Rules-wise. I will be getting this resin beast too when it is released!

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  5. Vairy nice. Does that lance fire something like a brightlance shot and function as a cc weapon, or no rules seen as yet? That shield is funky, I imagine it being the rough outline with void shields arcing out. If only there was a way to model that effectively.

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    1. The Rules are in Extermination. I can't remember them off heart though. Shield is an Ion shield which can't cover rear but can be used in Close Combat. The Lance can be a Destroyer weapon or it can fire blasts (which don't count as blasts) of Powerful bolts.

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