Hello,
I am a product designer and I am curious is there anyone on here that has sculpted for toy companies? If so, then how do you convert your files for a manufacturer so there can edit them for production? (I.E. Zbrush to solidworks, Rhino, etc)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Rob
Are you thinking of Stereolithography printing? STL. Zbrush and Solidworks both allow export in STL format. not sure about Rhino but if it’s like 3DS Max then that also does the same
This converts the model to triangles. So it’s unlikely that you’d want to import this into Solidworks (in my experience anyway) - unless this is the software that you’re using to print the model - remember there’s a 3D print button but not used it.
Solidworks also has a limit on polycount for importing STLs. Can’t remember what it is. But it’s caused me some grief in the past.
You’d need to use ZBrushes Decimation Master on a super high poly model to use it outside of ZBrush.
Exporting from Solidworks you can also use IGES I beleive however I’ve only used it for STL output and for production of CAD drawings. IGES gets into 3DS Max with a NURBS surface if I remember rightly.
For which purpose do you need a NRUBS software after ZBrush?
As replied Spittle, ZBrush export only polygons and no NURBS datas, from quads to triangles, depending of your choices of optimization.
Software like Rhino can load the polygonal files, but you won’t have a lot of tools to work with, even if you can convert to NURBS (one poly=one patch), or use the TSplines on quad output meshes, but I think it won’t be possible on high polymeshes.
Please, tells us more about what you are looking for, your problematics, then, it will easier to give you a more accurate answer.
ZBrush is more and more used in the figure and toy creation, but perhaps not in all the toy filed 
I create various RC hobby product and from my conceptual work we create rapid prototypes, for form studies, ergonomics, etc. I appreciate all of your input. We figured that one of our guys here will have to do a 3D trace of my sculpt from scratch until we get our 3D scanner in place. Thanks again!
Rob
No idea, I was just offering my experiences of Solidworks, STL, and intergration with other packages, or perhaps I was just rambling!
Hi Rob,
I’m a product designer working in the world of Trophies. I have been using Z-Brush and Rhino as a workflow when I’ve needed to produce anything that requires a tolerance. Had some good results. Although you have to bear in mind that the resultant CAD model is a MESH and is therefore inherently poor when it comes to engineering tolerances (i.e. +/-0.1mm). Depends on what you’re doing and what the margin for error is…
Hurricks
Hi Hurricks, I have this doubt too. I’m a cg artist working in a illustration studio and I intend to start working just with models for toys.
Does anybody had a experience in the field to enlighten the path?
Thanks for any replies.
Please, feel free to post your work and workflow when in relation in the manufacturing. We are always curious and interesting in what you can do with it
Hi Totyo, thanks for your reply.
Can I ask for your opinion about some works in my site: www.mock-ag.com (some old work, this site wil be updated soon)
I’ll be glad to hear from you.
Thanks,
Ariel