3D Printing Award-Successful Case Mods for Computer systems

The ever-increasing vary of functions for 3D printing spans many alternative industries and professions. For Stefan Ulrich, AKA RandomDesign, 3D printing has enabled him to create some really epic pc case mods.

Initially from Germany, however at the moment dwelling in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Stefan works full-time on commissioned initiatives making case mods, props and 3D printed costume items. His initiatives have included case mods that seem like Poe Dameron’s X-Wing from the present Star Wars trilogy, the W.O.P.R. pc from the basic film, WarGames, a life-sized Venom bust, and lots of extra. Stefan has additionally designed and fabricated props and costumes for characters from Overwatch, Batman, Harry Potter, Alien, The Final of Us, and even the Grinch. Stefan has been incomes awards for his designs since 2014, and he has grown a popularity as somebody who pays consideration to element and makes reproductions which might be very true to the supply materials.

In 2012, when the Ultimaker 2 and the Prusa i3 had been launched, it was Stefan’s first publicity to 3D printing, and the preliminary spark of creativity for utilizing 3D printing was ignited. “I used to be nonetheless on the college once I began to appreciate my first inventive initiatives and at the moment, I initially turned conscious of 3D printing and the nice alternatives it presents.”

However his begin in case modding was solely the start. “I began constructing case mods in 2014 and later expanded my enterprise to incorporate making props for costumes or small film productions. With each mission I’ve constructed thus far, I attempt to embody new supplies and study new methods. After I received my first 3D printer, I primarily printed small detailed elements or elements that had been simply tougher to make from different supplies, equivalent to wooden or glass fiber. Working my manner up from there, I’ve already accomplished a number of absolutely 3D printed case mods and props. Additionally it is an ideal approach to provide masters that I then can use for mould making and casting. 3D printing simply opens up big prospects for my work in each areas, case modding and prop making, and permits me to right away understand all the designs I made in 3D.”

Whereas engaged on his grasp’s diploma, Stefan was in a position to companion with 3DGence. “Partnering with 3DGence was actually my start line of diving into 3D printing. In 2018, I began a really fruitful collaboration with Sindoh 3DWOX who supplied me with two of their printers in addition to various kinds of filament. Since then, I spotted a number of big 3D printing initiatives, just like the Venom bust and the Star Wars X-Wing that are virtually fully 3D printed.”

Stefan primarily makes use of a Sindoh 3DWOX 2X and a Sindoh 3DWOX 1, that are fully-enclosed FDM 3D printers. This permits him to get constant 3D prints utilizing ABS filament. “Resulting from my partnership with Sindoh 3DWOX, I’m primarily utilizing their filament. I’m printing quite a bit in PLA, however switching increasingly more to ABS as a result of the post-processing is less complicated and sooner in comparison with PLA prints. I thus far haven’t felt the necessity for utilizing different supplies, like PETG, PEEK or nylon, however I positively wish to look extra into resin printers for future initiatives.”

One of many overarching causes Stefan’s designs are so profitable is his intensive use of post-processing methods. “All of my 3D printing initiatives are extremely processed. My purpose is all the time to make my items seem like they weren’t 3D printed. I begin with a fundamental sanding, adopted by wet-sanding. After assembling particular person items, all bigger gaps are crammed with two-part epoxy putty, sanded once more, and coated with a number of skinny layers of spray filler. After filling the remaining spots with spot putty, one other spherical of wet-sanding follows. I repeat these two steps till the floor is easy and completely even. Then, I begin priming and portray.”

The satan is certainly within the particulars for Stefan. His consideration to supply materials for his 3D prints, in addition to his post-processing routine, has garnered him over two dozen awards from a number of case-modding occasions and publications. His work in 3D printing has really elevated his capability to get correct fashions as he explains. “With the proper settings and an ideal 3D mannequin, 3D printing actually can enhance your mission. For instance, I constructed a tabletop-size duplicate of the WOPR from the 1983 film WarGames and my first model was fabricated from glass fiber and physique filler. Nonetheless, it was extraordinarily troublesome to fulfill the proper angle for each nook and to attain a wonderfully even and easy floor. As a result of I used to be completely unhappy with the unique end result, I made a decision to rebuild the complete case in 3D and print the person elements. On this manner, all angles and corners turned out precisely as they’ve been designed in my 3D mannequin.”

Stefan additionally sees 3D printing as an indispensable software for his present and future initiatives. “3D printing primarily helps me to appreciate my concepts and crafting initiatives on any scale I need. 3D prints are additionally very gentle and that’s why 3D printing was additionally my technique of selection once I was constructing my Hunter Warrior pocket book within the fashion of this yr’s Alita film. Apart from that, I additionally use 3D printing generally to simply print some helpful gadgets for my workshop equivalent to fan ducts for my energy instruments or a fume hood for my soldering iron.”

“Since 2018, I’ve been making case mods and props professionally. For a lot of of my consumer’s initiatives, I both use 3D printed elements or understand the entire work by 3D printing. 3D modeling and printing turned very useful, particularly once I’m requested to incorporate sure capabilities right into a prop. For instance, I constructed for the Overwatch fan movie “Lion’s Return” the weapons of the characters Widowmaker and Tracer which had been purported to have the identical capabilities as within the online game. So, I designed and examined the mechanisms in my 3D fashions and realized them by 3D printing.”

However the place does Stefan see 3D printing going sooner or later for the common person? “I believe if somebody desires to begin with 3D printing now, it’s fairly handy. There are increasingly more reasonably priced printers in the marketplace, each FDM and SLA. Web sites like “Thingiverse” provide an enormous choice of free 3D recordsdata for printing. If you happen to additionally wish to dive deeper into 3D printing and create your individual 3D fashions, studying a 3D modeling software program is now not that troublesome because of virtually limitless assets and tutorials on-line lately. And the perfect half for newcomers, most of them are at no cost.”

As for 3D printer performance, Stefan voices lots of the similar needs for normal options sooner or later; filament runout sensors, versatile construct plates, print restore after energy failure and wifi connectivity. Getting that ‘One’ 3D printer with all of the bells and whistles could be a boon for newbie and superior customers alike.

The long run appears to be very thrilling for Stefan, as his journey into 3D modeling and design is actually simply starting. “I all the time have a number of initiatives occurring on the similar time. I’ve simply completed the WOPR and the Star Wars X-Wing case mod. At the moment, I’m engaged on the total physique armor of Batman from the film Batman vs Superman. As well as, I’m constructing some smaller props proper now, just like the C-10 rifle from the character Kerrigan from the sport Starcraft 2. I’m additionally already in preparation for my subsequent case mod, which will probably be one other 3D designed and printed bust of an EVA-01 unite from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

We will’t wait to see what Stefan creates subsequent, so remember to keep up to date on Stefan and his superb initiatives by following @Random2k4design on all social media platforms.

You too can go to his web site, which hosts quite a few different galleries of some extra unbelievable initiatives at www.randomdesign.org