Mani Zamani<\/a> and the awesome model Rose Keeper in the previous post. Mani used Shapeways Steel 3D printing and existing Revoltech joints to make a movable, pose able model that is just amazing. \n<\/p>\nBelow Mani explains to us, a great and inspirational story, the journey to Rose Keeper. <\/p>\n
Well I am a foreign
\nstudent and graduate of the Design Academy in Eindhoven and as
\nlong as I remember I was always fascinated by those giant robots from Japanese
\nanimation specially the old school ones. So based on that background, believe it
\nor not, I decided to become a designer.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After coming to The Netherlands,
\nin my forth year of study I started a project in the plastic course which the
\nfocus was designing a robot action figure based on injection molding in a form
\nof kit model for kids. For that project I used the simple technique of making
\nall the parts with balsa wood and simply vacuum form them with polystyrene (the
\nsame material used for kit models) and I used Lego parts for the joints.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
A month later a friend of mine
\nwho is also a computer nerd <\/span>introduced me to Shapeways. And that was a big deal really big deal. See
\nafter 5 years of modeling in Rhino3d and printing data sheets to make parts in
\nfoam and balsa, Shapeways was a big eye opener.<\/p>\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/Mani_Zamani_3D_printed_steel__revoltech42.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nSo I decided to go straight and
\nwithout any test print I ordered my first model which was also a very human like
\nrobot inspired by ninja-samurais (The Samurai-Poet Project).<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/Mani_Zamani_3D_printed_steel__revoltech52.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
As
\nyou can see every thing is printed by Shapeways except the ball joints system
\nwhich I order them from Japan. I did
\nsome test prints of the same ball and socket system with SLS(White, Strong & Flexible) but it was not as
\nstrong as I expected to be specially for the hip joints where there is more
\nweight <\/span>but I did use the SLS ball
\njoints in arms where there is no weight issue there .\n<\/p>\nIt was after this experience
\nwhich I came up with the conclusion that ratchet and klicky ball joints are
\nbetter solution for heavy models and after some research I found Revoltech. <\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Now what is Revoltech: Revoltech is an action figure line from the
\nJapanese company Kaiyodo<\/a>. The main selling point
\nof the line is the ‘Revolver’ joint, which all of the figures utilize. This
\ngives the figures a high degree of articulation, allowing for many dynamic and
\nvaried poses.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
Exactly 4 months before my visa expired I
\nsaw an announcement of metal 3d printing <\/span>for all<\/span> on Shapeways and I went nuts for
\nit. I had to design a robot all in metal (I have a goal in my life and it is to
\ndesign and build robot figures in as many different materials and techniques a as
\npossible and become a master of it)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
So in order to over come the costs I decided to cancel my summer trip to Zurich and spend the money on this project.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/Mani_Zamani_3D_printed_steel__revoltech72.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n
Rosekeeper became a different project
\nduring designing. The organic shape of a rose<\/span> and a background story that I had
\nin mind lead to this creature which is not a robot but a rejected demon from
\nhell which has to find the perfect rose<\/span> in order to bring balance between the
\nworld of angels, demons, humans and birds.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
It has 14 points of articulation together
\nwith 2 point extra for knees (double joints).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
Unfortunately even with Revoltech joints it
\nis heavy for some poses but I am really pleased with it and this brings me to my
\nnext project which will be to design my own joint system this will also let me
\nsell my works without any restrictions<\/span>. (the figure itself is 205 mm long). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/Mani_Zamani_3D_printed_steel__revoltech62.jpg\")
<\/p>\n