From Roland's press release:
Roland's New 3D Hobby Milling Machine Provides an Affordable Production Tool for Craft and Hobby Enthusiasts
iModela Produces Miniatures, Models, Jewelry, Accessories and Craft Embellishments from Modeling Wax, Foam, Balsa Wood and Plastic
"iModela is a completely new concept – a digital hobby mill designed to support a range of unique creative pursuits, from miniatures and model railroading to jewelry design and craft projects," said Brian Brooks, product manager for Roland DGA Corp. "The applications for this innovative technology are endless, and we can't wait to see what our customers will produce with it."
With iModela, 3D modelers and hobby enthusiasts can easily and accurately create and embellish a wide range of projects by producing 3D shapes, reliefs, textures and patterns from modeling wax, foam, balsa wood and plastic materials. With a milling area of 3.39 inches wide by 2.17 inches in length and 1.02 inches in height, iModela is the perfect tool for small-scale creative projects.
This baby will set you back $899, but it'll elevate you from "solo" to "independent" in an instant! You could order your miniatures from yourself!
Odds are it will also take you from "married" to "divorced" just as quickly.
Still, it would be neat to have a little machine that could make the miniatures I wanted...
For more, go HERE.
Is this the same as a 3D digital printer? I have not visited the site, but the term "milling machine" makes it sound different than a printer. Also, I wonder how much detail you can really get out of it.
ReplyDeleteOK,I just read the article. It is different from 3D printing. Cool, but I would still have to see how much detail you can get. At $899, I don't think my wife would approve!
ReplyDeleteThe way I would spin this to my wife is that over the next 5 years I will spend over $1,000 on miniatures which are made in China and may contain harmful chemicals. So instead I could make my own miniatures using organic materials.
ReplyDeleteNo you're right my wife would never approve either.
I've been watching 3D printing for a while with exactly the same thoughts. Incredibly handy for crafting one-off bitz for modelling projects. For actual miniatures though I think these technologies would be better for creating a master figure which could then be moulded and cast in the traditional way, rather than milling/printing every miniature individually.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I have no wife to approve/disapprove. Moot point though as I also have no money :-) Ten years from now though, I reckon these sorts of devices will be down to today's laser printer prices, and we'll all be wondering how we got along without them.
I found this as a possible cheaper way for DIY types!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Build-Desk-Top-3-Axis-CNC-Milling-Machine/
If I EVER dared to seriously consider this product, I agree with Chris - it would be determined by the level of detail possible.
ReplyDelete