ATEC 6389 Week 3 (Vic Simon)

Weeks 1-3 - 3D Modeling

Week 3 Blog                                                                             

Task: (Continue to) Create two 3D object models, one “in the round” and the other “in relief” that can be used to create 3D prints, and as models for other various digital fabrication versions over the course of the semester

Process: 3D Modeling, Digital Sculpting, & Encapsulation & completion of two required 3D objects ready to be 3D printed

Tools: Autodesk Maya, KeyShot

I knew that Week 3 was an important key milestone in my attempt to survive ATEC 6389. It was absolutely ESSENTIAL to have completed the two viable software 3D models finished. Those two models were the key deliverable for the rest of the entire course expressions of ‘material performativity’, i.e., 3D printing, Casting & Molding, Laser Cutting & Pepakura!

I was pretty proud of the progress I had made as a newbie in Mudbox with my “in the round” bust of some ‘AlienArtist’ character. I felt like I had done a fair job of using Mudbox as a beginner. The personal demo “jazz” sessions that Prof riffed had helped me trust & understand a more bottom-up, free form, approach to character creation & sculpture in opposition to the more top-down, photo-realistic, and DaVinci like work of Faraut.

Maya is a Beast! I was totally overwhelmed trying to work in the application to close/cap off the Mudbox composition files and create ‘relief’ versions. I totally understood the concepts, I just was lost in the Maya Beast.

To Prof’s credit, he bailed me out and helped me close of the bust from the extrusions I had been able to create and he then did the relief with a triangle like extrusion that was fab and I loved! He also cleaned up some bad geometry that I had created in the interiors of the ‘AA’s eyes.

Simply, he saved my ass, and gave me the important ‘passport’ I needed to continue in ScottWorld. It’s getting old, but gratitude ProfScott!

I also discovered Rhino for the Mac and now have it on my home iMac. It is a better tool for me in the beginner’s study of 3D geometry. Intend to watch the Lynda.com course if I survive this semester!




Here are the two Rhino 'Ghosted" 3D Geometry Models:




AlienArtist Bust





AlienArtist Relief

Here are my 3D printed models from our FabLab (Thanks Amanda & PepaRon!)