Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Filler filler and more filler

So its time to give up my life and spend the next few weeks sanding. This is because I'm going to have to coat the ENTIRE model in filler and sand it back down to a high quality, even finish. So it begins. Filler is applied to the top of the model, this allows me to hold the handle with my left hand and attempt, i say attempt because i was useless at it. attempt to skim a fine but even layer of filler onto the surface of the model.
 

As you can see it looks more like a Mr Whippy Ice-cream than a futuristic device. So i spend all day skimming, waiting for it to dry and then sanding before repeating the process. The handle and botom of the model is dont in the same fashion untill we have what looks like a giant blob of blutak
 This Took the best part of three days to get to this stage. The problem with it is that you cannot get a smooth surface by simply slapping the filler on, it's not possible. you have to put some on, Sand it down, find any gaps and then apply more. Now this stuff dries like plaster, so you can imagine the time it takes and the dust it creates. 
At this point i realised i was going to have to make a rather important decision. Did i continue sanding and filling and loose more time on my other projects or did i use CAD/CAM.

Now if you do not know we have a thing called a rapid prototyper in EdgeHill. This lovely piece of equipment looks like an instant coffee machine but can actually print 3D models. While sitting and sanding i worked out that i could probably design the model on 3D software that night and feed it into the machine the next day. This would stop me wasting my life and lungs sanding.


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