Yellow Jacket
10-04-2009, 07:16 AM
I am having a BLAST with the STL importer...I was a little taken aback at the beginning by the "sticker shock" factor; however, I have a background in software development and product, and realize that CarveWright likely had to buy some expensive library and/or component package to get this working, so I get it.
Anyway, I took the plunge and am now using multiple slices of components I designed and scaled as accessories to my son's Halloween Costume (SSI DiveCon, "Scuba Steve", Tech Diver - your choice). Originally, I set about doing the accessories (Dive Computers, Lead Weights, Regulators) using "Sculpey", which worked *ok*, but not great. Well, I happen to have been playing around for a few years with Google's SketchUp software (highly recommended if you haven't heard of it - it's FREE, and if you search the web for "Google STL Exporter", there is a free exporter you can download, drop in the plug-ins directory, and export your model to an STL through the "Tools" dropdown menu - very easy, and hasn't hiccuped for me yet).
Ok, I'm droning...anyway, I got the STL importer, designed several high-tech SCUBA devices in Sketchup - scaled them for a 7-month-old, sliced them up in the importer, and carved/re-assembled them. Now, I'm using MDF for these which I do *not* want anywhere near my 7-month-old, so what I'm doing is taking the original carved pieces, and making silicone mould casts of them, then re-casting the parts via the mould in FDA-approved 2-part plastic (www.alumilite.com).
More details when the project is done, but if you're at *all* interested in producing true 3-D "3-axis-simulated" works and you're good with a tool that can produce an STL model, the STL importer is worth every penny to you.
Regards,
Yellow Jacket Productions
Anyway, I took the plunge and am now using multiple slices of components I designed and scaled as accessories to my son's Halloween Costume (SSI DiveCon, "Scuba Steve", Tech Diver - your choice). Originally, I set about doing the accessories (Dive Computers, Lead Weights, Regulators) using "Sculpey", which worked *ok*, but not great. Well, I happen to have been playing around for a few years with Google's SketchUp software (highly recommended if you haven't heard of it - it's FREE, and if you search the web for "Google STL Exporter", there is a free exporter you can download, drop in the plug-ins directory, and export your model to an STL through the "Tools" dropdown menu - very easy, and hasn't hiccuped for me yet).
Ok, I'm droning...anyway, I got the STL importer, designed several high-tech SCUBA devices in Sketchup - scaled them for a 7-month-old, sliced them up in the importer, and carved/re-assembled them. Now, I'm using MDF for these which I do *not* want anywhere near my 7-month-old, so what I'm doing is taking the original carved pieces, and making silicone mould casts of them, then re-casting the parts via the mould in FDA-approved 2-part plastic (www.alumilite.com).
More details when the project is done, but if you're at *all* interested in producing true 3-D "3-axis-simulated" works and you're good with a tool that can produce an STL model, the STL importer is worth every penny to you.
Regards,
Yellow Jacket Productions