digital 3d enlargement

[Roy Tamboli]

I need a clay sculpture enlarged from 1ft.H to 6ft.H for bronze casting and would like to do enlargement digitally.
Anyone know where the enlargement process can be done?
thanks, Roy
roy@tamboli.com

[GaryR52]

Here are few:

http://cyberfx.com/sculpt_enlarge.htm

http://www.necoinc.com/3D-Routing/

http://www.danielsengraving.com/foam/index.shtml

http://www.dirdim.com/pdfs/DDI_Digital_Techniques_for_Sculpture.pdf

http://www.atelier.org/digital.htm

http://www.satellitemodels.com/

http://www.synappsys.com/

http://www.directdimensions.com/index(3d).htm

Hmmm....apparently, the forum's HTML coding doesn't like their addition of the parentheses.


Gary

[Roy Tamboli]

Gary- this is fantastic, thanks a lot!
Roy

[GaryR52]

You're welcome, Roy. Good luck. :D

Gary

[Jamo]

Wow lots of places doing this stuff. I wonder how much it would cost to get one of these places to take a small desktop sized sculpture 1 1/2ft X 1 1/2 ft and take it down to an even smaller figurine size? Does the detail need handworking? I'll be checking these links out too. thanks.

[tevj]

Hey Roy, when you get a costing on the enlargement can you let us know?..i am in australia, and this whole process is really interesting...would love to know how it pans out.
T

[Roy Tamboli]

My first quote for 1 ft. to 6 ft. is around US$ 6500. Of course price all depends on the particular details of each project.
You can email images to the companies above to get quotes.
Roy

[GaryR52]

Most of that is the cost of the foam block that is carved (via CNC) to produce the enlargement, I think. Keep in mind, also, that some of these services may produce only foam enlargements, not complete foundry services, as well. In that case, you'll need the services of a foundry that does lost foam casting, in addition to the using an enlarging service. But, supposedly, this is still cheaper than taking an original sculpture to a bronze foundry for a "traditional" enlargement and casting.

Gary

[tevj]

bloody hell!!!..that is expensive...its a machine right?...and a laser??...not a team of artisans from the renaissance, patiently carving away at a block of foam!!
ok to charge industrial projects lkike that, but there should be a law saying artists should be exempt from paying ridiculous prices!!!
in fact, artists should get free everything!!!...and a new coat every winter...and paint and clay...and brushes...wine...women...song....well you get the picture!

[GaryR52]

There are two factors driving the cost: first, the cost of the foam itself, which isn't cheap for a large block of polyurethane. Then there is the speed at which the machine operates. They use multiple-axis CNC milling machines for this and, while they are a lot quicker than those Renaissance artisans, it still takes time, which means there is a finite limit to how many sculptures the company can handle per day. The time has to be charged for and the cost of the equipment has to be factored in, as well. If the company is relatively new, or if it is leasing the CNC equipment, it has high costs to be paid for, plus profit has to be figured in over and above their costs.

Gary

[justme]

Hi Everyone,
I need to hire someone for an enlargement too. I was told it would be around $2,000, but when I actually got the quote it was $3500-4200, depending on whether the final foam would be 6 or 7 ft. tall. That price was from Synappsys.
Has anyone used them or can you recommend a company that you have used.
Thanks a bunch, J

[john wendelbo]

Hey gary we're not on the list!!!

http://www.rvwart.com

check us out... we do just a bout anything that has to do with 3D modelling, rapid prototyping, 5 axis cnc machining, digital scanning etc... (as long as it has something to do with art!!!)

my solo work is at http://wendelbo.nobullart.com

take care

john

[Synappsys]

Hi Everyone,
I need to hire someone for an enlargement too. I was told it would be around $2,000, but when I actually got the quote it was $3500-4200, depending on whether the final foam would be 6 or 7 ft. tall. That price was from Synappsys.
Has anyone used them or can you recommend a company that you have used.
Thanks a bunch, J


That quote is pretty much spot on for a 6-7 ft enlargment out of rigid polyurethane foam. Some places are starting to use polystyrene for the bodies and urethane for more detailed sections to save costs. The downside to this is the lack of foam detail and workability in the styrene. We have also noticed that the styrene scallops more than the urethane on our machines and is more work for the artist before clay application.

John P

[john wendelbo]

3D ENLARGEMENT here too!!! using state of the art 3D scanner and CNC milling at http://www.carolinabronze.com - contact john wendelbo - also solo work at http://www.johnwendelbo.com

[The Forge]

Come on now. We call ourselves sculptors and yet we seem to be only capable of producing small clay pieces. What happened to the tried and true method of scaling things up from the original. How can you call the enlargement your work when it was done by a machine? Besides, CNC machines have a mind of their own. You might have to put its name on the sculpture also. :rolleyes:

[joshuazabel]

I thought I should add this to the digital enlarging roll call:
http://www.zaab.org/kdf
(website is a work in progress)

And the company's main site:
http://www.kreysler.com

[tomdanahy]

In the past (prior to CNC) the traditional method was to "point up" from the smaller maquette. While some sculptors did this themselves, many (most) jobbed that out to a sculptor who did this to augment his income or an artisan as a business. This goes back to the past as well. The originating sculptor than reworked or corrected the point up. The point up could have been in stone,in clay, etc. In bigger studios the apprentices might have done this.
Consequently I don't really see a great difference whether pointed up in the traditional way or done by scanning.
I have also heard (From a well known sculptor who did pointing up for others as well as for his own work) that the cost is about the same, but the scan and machine method a lot faster.
Some sculptors may create a full size final clay piece, certainly many working in stone or wood do, but I feel relatively certain most clay to bronze sculptors do a smaller master and job out the enlargement.
I also know that many sculptors also job out the pointing up if going from clay to stone and do the final detailing (or not).

[Andrew Werby]

Wow lots of places doing this stuff. I wonder how much it would cost to get one of these places to take a small desktop sized sculpture 1 1/2ft X 1 1/2 ft and take it down to an even smaller figurine size? Does the detail need handworking? I'll be checking these links out too. thanks.

A lot of the cost is for the large machines necessary to carve those big sculptures. It's less expensive to "point down", because smaller machines tend to be cheaper. Also the detail can be better, because the detail is concentrated instead of spread out, and you can use small cutters and finely-spaced passes of the tool without taking weeks to do it. The range of materials is better too - you're not stuck with foam as your only choice.

If the detail is accessible to the tool, it usually won't require handwork, although if it's undercut and inaccessible then it will. I've got scanners and smallish CNC machines; without seeing your piece I'd estimate about $500 for the scan and $1000 for a 9" carving (half-size), although more complexity would drive the cost up, while simpler forms might be a bit less.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[Keropian]

Hello All,

I have posted my enlarging and reduction services using the 3 d pantograph method on a prior thread. Just wish to let you know of them here.
http://www.keropiansculpture.com/enlgmachine.html

In general the digital cost mentioned above does not likely include an armature.

Mike

[cougar]

Ive looked for a low cost pantograph design some where on the internet but so far no luck. That is some serious money,well earned non the less but still.

[caroline.h]

Hi everyone,

My name is Caroline. My father runs a studio in Miami, FL and makes enlargement and reduction with a 3D pantograph for 25 years! He brought this technique from Paris to Miami where the company is established for 12 years. It is a family business for 5 generations.

We also make molds (Plaster, Silicon or Fiberglass) and casts in plaster or fiberglass and more!

We work with Artists for Art in Public places, Art Galleries and Museums.

An average price for an enlargement from 2ft to 6ft begins at $2000 + finishing. Of course if the enlargement is smaller the price will follow!

To learn more about us go to www.haligonfineart.net or call me at 1 (305) 495 7197.