3D printing and design are important instruments for Paragon Replicas when creating Mandalorian armor and different popular culture costumes and props.
Posted on January 6, 2020
by
Chris Morgan
Among the best issues about working at MatterHackers is the depth and breadth of artistic those that work in each division. Now we have woodworkers, engineers, paper crafters and naturally, cosplayers.
Mike Corridor has been creating 3D printed props and armor for cosplay since 2013 after he stumbled upon the YouTube video collection of James Bruton’s Iron Man armor creation and meeting. After seeing these, Mike discovered all he may about 3D printing – materials properties, programming, 3D printer building – every little thing. Then, for his candy 16, his dad received him his first 3D printer, and he’s been hooked ever since. Beginning off, as most new 3D printer homeowners do, he shortly went via take a look at prints that got here included along with his XYZPrinting DaVinci 2.0. However his earlier designs from his autodidactic training had been additionally used to measure his personal proficiency along with his new machine. Most notably he remembers a Pokeball he modeled a while earlier than he acquired his first printer.
Mike first discovered 3D modeling on 123Design, then moved to extra advanced modeling applications like Fusion 360, Meshmixer, ZBrush, Solidworks, and MatterControl. He additionally makes use of Cura and Ideamaker as slicing engines along with MatterControl after modeling.
Quickly after Mike was in a position to purchase a Robo3D R1+ after his DaVinci 2.0, sadly, broke down. From there he simply stored making and printing new designs. “I 3D print primarily to precise my ardour and love of popular culture, whereas additionally expressing myself as an artist. With not solely replicas however authentic ideas as effectively.”
However his printing tasks don’t cease there. “I like to make personalised presents for others or make them a high-quality duplicate from their favourite film, recreation, or present. It at all times hits laborious after I make them one thing that can’t be purchased. I additionally get occasional commissions from folks, which helps me study much more in regards to the design and 3D printing course of.”
For his prints, Mike primarily goes with commonplace PETG. “It’s a incredible center floor between ABS and PLA. Fewer complications whereas printing than ABS, and better glass transition level than PLA. That is crucial for me as a result of my props are sometimes in scorching vehicles, as I drive to completely different conventions. Having a prop soften at an occasion could be dangerous, and it’s occurred earlier than with PLA.” His favourite filament is Kimya PETG Carbon, which supplies his prints an amazingly easy floor which nearly wants no post-processing to prove a ready-to-use cosplay half or prop.
Mike makes use of post-processing methods which might be very near auto-body restore. “Studying together with 3D printing, I’ve carried out tons of physique store methods, how you can paint, and how you can make a 3D print seem like it was not 3D printed. Studying how you can sand and canopy seams is a giant a part of my prop work. I take advantage of numerous 220 grit sandpaper and filler primer, then Bondo for seams, and the extra noticeable print traces often on domed surfaces. Superglue and child powder makes an incredible fast filler for tiny imperfections, but additionally air dry spot putty for the smaller seams and imperfections.”
Mike presently makes use of a ‘tricked-out’ Pulse XE 3D printer to manufacture most of his items. It has been modified and upgraded to supply extraordinarily high-resolution prints, which drastically cuts down on the time he must spend on post-processing. “My Pulse has reached a loopy stage of high quality via minor and main tweaks over time. The useful prints I do often find yourself on my 3D printer, which improves the standard of my prints, which reduces post-processing time for my props and costumes.”
“3D printing additionally offers me the pace and functionality to do commissions quick. However much more importantly they offer me the chance to do commissions in any respect. 3D printing gave me the flexibility to make precisely what I needed to make. I used to dream of proudly owning a Lulzbot TAZ 4, and now I can use that machine, and way more right here at MatterHackers which gave me the chance to work on my ardour, across the expertise I like a lot.”
Mike’s present undertaking is updating and finishing a whole Mandalorian set of armor and becoming a member of the native chapter of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Membership; a worldwide, elite Star Wars costuming group comprised of and operated by Star Wars followers and volunteers. His upcoming additions to his costume embody a monitoring fob (as seen within the Disney+ collection, The Mandalorian) in addition to a Scout trooper pistol. He’s additionally presently redesigning and reprinting his helmet to be extra true to the TV collection. He not too long ago reprinted your entire helmet in a single shot on the huge construct plate of a Raise3D Pro2 Plus!
He was additionally integral to serving to us choose a winner throughout our newest Halloween MeetUp held at Brewheim Beer Firm as one in all our esteemed judges together with different cosplayers like Sara McMunn (C’Est La Sara), Alina Granville (Spoon Makes), and Vicky Bunny Angel.
Like all critical makers, Mike hopes for extra innovation sooner or later for brand spanking new customers, in addition to the training that they want for the longer term. Even the perfect machines available on the market require some entry-level info on the operation and upkeep of 3D printing to persistently produce higher and higher prints.
Together with new improvements and training, Mike seems ahead to a brand new era of makers which might be outfitted to maneuver boldly into the 3D printing enviornment to start out creating their very own designs.
To see Mike’s tasks, go to and observe him on his Paragon Replicas Instagram web page right here: @paragonreplicas
It’s also possible to take a look at his progress on his YouTube channel right here:
