3D printed miniatures are the future.

I don't know if physical stuff like CNC is subject to the same exponential improvement curve as computers, but I hope it happens.

There's already a guy on BGG who will make out-of-print games on demand, but you're looking at 80 bucks for Dune, I believe. So perhaps the cost of using a third party for DIY miniatures will still be too high. I mean, who needs a corner mini-printer when you have China?

Look at the cost for ink if you want to print out something at home. My guess is that when decect 3d printers start showing up at work, then "free" minis will start cropping up.

I actually watched that third video, "Figure Printing" and there is some serious hardware behind making those large Warcraft dolls. I didn't understand the machine that was immersing them in something--the "Super Bee." Is that just varnish?

It's interesting to think about the intersection of advancing technology, countries like China and cheap global distribution. Did you know that giant cargo ships are more fuel efficient that your Prius?

Still very, very far.

I doubt that this would grow exponentially like computers. This is physical stuff. I know many independent miniature makers who use 3D prints, but not for mass production. They make a 3d print, clean it up, and finally use it to create the mold. Slight mistakes in cleaning will cause the ridge lines to appear (sometimes worse) on the metal mass production copies.

I've held low quality 3d prints and high quality 3d prints in my hands. Even the best just don't compare with FFG new crop of plastics. And to say nothing about Games Workshop quality, which is still leap and bounds above most competitors.

Sevej wrote: I've held low quality 3d prints and high quality 3d prints in my hands. Even the best just don't compare with FFG new crop of plastics. And to say nothing about Games Workshop quality, which is still leap and bounds above most competitors.

Quality of the prints? Or quality of the medium?
I've venture a guess, and were I a betting man I'd bet the farm, that FFG is now using 3D printing for their prototyping and masters.

Here's some of my buddy's work. He models in 6mm, so the troops are about 1/4-3/8" tall. The vehicles are about 1" long and less tall and wide.

Masters (meaning the models they make the molds from) printed in metal (I'm pretty sure brass, but it doesn't look brass so I need to double check) of the troops:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/24304_195744847259085_1520800731_n.jpg?oh=01c3f0982342658ab526f68e14a5d346&oe=55456F39&__gda__=1429091345_845e28e89ee455741d60725734f7f145

Masters of the dreadnought sized walker troops, these are about 3/4" tall:
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/408508_164516637048573_2121722322_n.jpg?oh=f8a9ef4a1ac492578fbe547163c64fa2&oe=553DCC37

Here are prototypes for his signoff in plastic prior to the masters being printed up:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/1011433_179117968921773_1904774520_n.jpg?oh=68dc257caf21971579d091942d435b36&oe=553B1FC8&__gda__=1430387995_9fb0613449538af1b22830e3093d8ba2

And I'll need to double check if these are the masters or the finished product just primed and a quick wash.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/v/t1.0-9/1454837_228529110647325_173396504_n.jpg?oh=219679fd6bac408265e9a7b6fe73f72b&oe=552E101A&__gda__=1429250493_1ecbcebd980e1c455520a334d08a00b5


Keep in mind the scale of these, being as small as they are, it is not possible to put in that level of detail using traditional armatures and green-stuff modeling epoxy.

When sculpting in 3D you can zoom the model in and add details that you just can't get by manipulating and pushing medium, that's why the model quality is getting better and better because this technology is getting more accessible. Back 10 years ago everything was sculpted by hand but with Rakham/Confrontation the rumor was that their detail was achieved by computer modeling and 3D printing, but they kept their process under wraps, and this was during a time when everyone sculpted by hand.

10 years later, using a few subcontractors my buddy is able to run a miniatures company out of his basement.

Now...This addresses just the prototyping and master model creation, the finished product is still cast in pewter. But 10 years from now I wouldn't be surprised to see him investing in some at home printing to cut out his subcontractors.

EDIT: Damn, photos won't embed, I'll try to figure out later but my 2yo is running around like a dang fool demanding attention. I'll try to fix later, till then just cut and paste.

This is why Facebook is terrible. Not only does it reduce the images to the level of crap, but it won't even let you link to it. It's like locking turds in a safe. Not only that, but your friend's great stuff can't even be found using an image search tool like Tineye.

He should have a tumblr or something.

VonTush, I know about your buddy's venture. He makes great miniatures. And he's using the same method as other manufacturers using 3d printing. Those are the masters. All the mass productions are metal. IIRC, the first picture are first miniatures off mould, and washed. The white transparent one is not plastic, it's white-something-white, IIRC the most expensive materials you can get off shapeways. Frosted white or something.

It's a combination of both the method and the material. Most still uses a layer method, and it needs material that can maintain edges & details, while still being viable to be CNC-ed.

And yes, it works better for smaller scale miniatures. I know people who're buying 3mm tanks off Shapeways. They don't have to worry much about graininess, and the surfaces tend to be small. Larger scales such as 28mm or even 1/72 needs that comparatively large smooth surfaces. These large smooth surfaces can be a pain to clean up, especially if they're curved.

I know for sure Dreamforge Games, Malifaux, Games Workshop and Corvus Belli use CAD design, but only CB uses 3D prints because they use metal for the final miniatures. So I wouldn't be surprised if FFG uses CAD design, but not 3D printing.

EDIT: Please differentiate between 3D printing & rapid prototyping.

My point is detailing where we're at currently as far as production/development goes and where things will likely end up, as the title of the thread contained "The Future". Where I agree that 3D printing at home is the likely future of miniatures.

Early arguments were that nothing beats good old fashioned sculpting, so much of my counter point was that many are not sculpted in the traditional sense. And detailed that currently yes, we are in rapid prototyping and sculpting online.

I've always liked this photo:


Yes, there are limits to the technology now. You can see the lines and layers in it, but like all technology it'll get better.

So no, no one is mass producing on any meaningful scale via 3D printing (and I don't think I claimed that but I do know I'm horrible and making my point clear), it currently all prototyping and master production. I think by the close of the 20's though (which is what I theorized upthread) printers will be cost effective and provide the resolution to make 3D printing at home possible.

I think it'll happen sooner rather than later.


Sounds like you know quite a bit about mini modeling - What's the process of making a plastic mold? I'm very familiar with the metal process, but the plastic ones I know little about. Are they milled out of a metal block?

Heh, no. I just happen to have a friend that works in the industry (general moulding, not miniatures) and I like to ask odd things. Basically yes, they're milled out of metal block. But the process is called machining instead of 3d printed (although principally you can say they are very similar). This is done using a huge ass machine with a lot of safety standards, costing thousands of dollars for each mould created.

My counter point would that the 3d print trend that we have right now is actually a rapid prototyping method using a LOT of shortcuts. This method gives the impression that home made 3d prints of good quality (say, FFG's quality) is near. Although yeah, an amazing breakthrough could give us a high quality 3d printer at every home. But amazing breakthroughs are quite rare. This kind of technology *will* change how the world works.

www.spacedaily.com/reports/How_3D_printi...eign_policy_999.html

Heh, that's what I meant .