Anyone know where to get an inexpensive 3D print made? For instance, I have a model I am looking to print that is 5"x16"x6" and most places I look, it is easly over 2 grand. Don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t have that kind of money just sitting around in the bank for ONE print. I don’t work in a studio where they pay the cost (or own a 3D printing machine) and I don’t have anyone financing me. Because at this point, it is more ecenomical to do it the old fashioned way with Super Sculpty, then make a mold. Any ideas would be great. Thanks.
Dragon:
I don’t think you’ll find a cheap price for something 5X16X6 but I’ll ask a couple of my friends who own 3D printing companies here in Tokyo and let you know.
Fabrizio
Hello Fabrizio. Thank you very much for the quick reply. So far, you are very correct by my research. I would very much appreciate the help my friend. Because, seeing your work at 2 or 3 inches is cool, but really, who wants to see all their hard work at that size? Not me. ZBrush allows us to do so much, then, to turn around and see it in ‘miniture’? The technology of 3D printing is not up to speed yet when it comes to money. Not that there is anything wrong with the price, just, that for a freelance artist/sculptor… right now, it IS a big chunk. Anywho, I know I am just gripping-
But seriously, if you find anything out, please let me know. Thanks a million.
As more companies start jumping in to 3d printing, the price will come down. Like everything else it’s supply and demand. As of now there are actually only a handful of companies that are offering FULL rapid prototyping services. Like ownage for instance - They’ll do just about anything including keying the piece and cleaning it up for you. Their prices are very fair. There are probably companies around that will print it for cheap but you won’t be happy with the resolution. You’ll end up losing half your detail as you attempt to sand off all the build lines. You get you what you pay for I guess.
I couldn’t agree more with you Ehren. It is always a matter of supply and demand. Take the DVD, Blue Ray Player, Big screen TV, HD TV’s etc. When they all first came out, they were all expensive. But, now look at the prices. Also, I understand that they (3D printers) have to charge what they charge. I worked at a digital printing company and we had a Durst printer (the darn thing nearly cost a million dollars to purchase), and we would have customers complain about how expensive the prints were. But, the point was, the customer could either go buy the printer it self, or pay for the print. Which was cheaper?? I am positive we will be buying 3D printers (in a few years) just like we buy desktop ink jet printers today. And I agree also, you get what you pay for. I will just use ZBrush for now as a prototype tool (work out any issues before doing it in Super Sculpty-much faster to fix issues in ZBrush). Best.
Hey Dragon…
I know a guy who can do it for you with a very nice price!
his email is [email protected]
enter in contact with him, you will love his work!
I just received a image of my model printed by him… take a look… its real bronze
[Bronze_old%20man.jpg[/ATT]%3C/font%3E"]
](http://%3Cfont%20color=%22#9A9A9A%22%3E[ATT=236478)
wait… it’s real bronze? did you make a mold from the print and have it re-cast in bronze??? or what?
Cool Giovani, I WILL contact him. Thanks for the info. And, I visited your site, your an amazing sculptor (I put you in my ‘favorite artist’ folder).
Ehren: Hi…yes It’s real bronze… Sashca (who did the print), did a bronze coat on the original print… 
amazing isn’t?
Dragon: aww… thank you so much!!
Hi Ehren, if you go to Giovani’s site, you will see it is NOT real bronze. He had it ‘bronze coated’. Maybe like the method below:
Add a little class to your setting!! Find a metal miniature or a small plastic toy (like the sackfuls of toy soldiers in the childrens Toy Dept.). The farm animals make good “sculptures”! Prime the item, then paint it black. Give it a wash with a reddish brown paint…let black show in the crevices. If necessary…do another black wash in the crevices. Highlight it with a gold “Rub & Buff” type creme gold paste…not too much!! Result should be an “antique” looking bronze!!
Or I really like this one:
Giovani, I think Ehren is asking if you had your model made into a mold, then had REAL (melted Bronze) poured into the mold to make a cast. When you say ‘coated’ I am thinking your printer ‘painted’ your model using a Bronze cream, paint or powder. Yes, no matter how you look at it, REAL Bronze flakes are used for any of the methods I just pointed out, but it is totally different than actually ‘pouring’ Bronze to make an actual Bronze sculpture. So, I guess, were both now asking, Did you get a ‘Bronze Mold’ made of your 3D print? Or did you get the actual 3D print ‘painted’ to look like Bronze?
If he ‘painted’ the Bronze, it’s looks amazing… very cool!!
I didn’t make any mold… and is not a “bronze paint”… its REAL bronze…
My printer printed in a hard material and then put REAL bronze on it, a bronze layer… its not a paint, understand?
I can ask him to explain it better…
Hey Giovani, sorry for the delay, but had to go to work. Anywho, ya bro, can you get him to explain what he/she does? Best. 
Dragon:
Hello again and sorry for not getting back to you eariler. Been working a lot.
My friends who own the 3D printing companies got back to me with prices and even if they give you a discount the price is still pretty high.
I’m sorry =/
I hope you’ll find a better deal
Warmest,
Fabrizio
Yes, hello again DigitalFreaky (Fabrizio). Ah, that’s alright. Kinda figured it would still be expensive (for now). As I had stated before, I had done some research and this 3D printing thing (since it’s new), will be pricy for the rest of us for some time to come. In the mean time, I have moved ahead and continued ‘post-sculpting’ in ZBrush. I will put my progress first chance I get. I have also purchased all the materials to do the ‘sculpty’ version. I will post that progress as well. Best.
I will then look forward to see your sculpt.
Have fun with super sculpey even though I’d advice you to use NSP chavant since it holds a lot more detail.
Anyhow, have a nice day!
Fabrizio
hi folks,
sry i wanted to explain earlier but had barely time.
the question here regarding paint or realmetal is what people are interested to know.
yes we used real bronze perticles that we basicly shot on the hollow printed out man from giovani.
so there is no paintjob with some mix of colors…
you can scrub the metal on the sculpture and it will be shiny there… try to do this with paint… i will demonstrate in a vid that shows that is iscreal metal.
the cost thing.
i believe there is no other known way to come up with a 15 inch sculpture coated in real metal within such a short time…
cheers
sascha/shred
Hi Shred, great to see ya up here. So, if understand you correclty, your using real bronze particles, just without the binder (like paint or rub on would use}? What a fantastic idea. No need to melt bronze but yet, get the same results. Amazing. Yes, a video would be cool!! (I will contact you to discuss pricing, turn around time etc… if you do not mind).
Hi Frabrizio. Listen, do you know if NSP will ‘mold’ OK? Most of the ‘clays’ Chavant produces (which I know they produce some of the best), are non-hardening. Does the NSP harden (can it be baked) or if not, will it hold detail during the mold making process?