On an episode of TCT’s Innovators on Innovators podcast in August 2023, Jason Lopes [JL] of Mild Large Studios (and previously of Legacy Results) sat down with Brian McLean [BM] of LAIKA Studios to debate the evolution of 3D printing purposes within the leisure house.
BM: It was after Kubo [and the Two Strings] that we have been at AMUG, and we have been giving a presentation about how we have been in a position to write our personal software program utilizing this AMF software with three colours. And Rob Ducey sat down and occurred to be at a desk with any person from Cuttlefish, and Cuttlefish had been doing the identical factor with a Connex3, however they’d been turning it right into a four-color printer by dyeing the assist materials.
JL: Bingo.
BM: Yeah, and they also, primarily, have been years forward of what Stratasys was specializing in. And so they have been doing an actual scientific deep dive into shade and the way whenever you’re coping with three-dimensional objects which can be printed in shade and you’ve got shade not simply on the outside floor, however a sure depth into it, the colour is affected by the form, the dimensions, whether or not it is a dice or a sphere, they will have barely completely different dithering patterns to create and dither the colours.
So, Cuttlefish have been wonderful. We ended up working with them and, once more, Stratasys gave us the flexibility to offer us one among these voxel dongles. After which Cuttlefish would do all of our slicing for us. And now that is one thing you may get. Again on Lacking Hyperlink, we have been the one place on this planet that had the capabilities of that as a result of we have been getting software program from Cuttlefish and {hardware}, the J750, from Stratasys. However now you can purchase a cuttlefish add on.
JL: I imagine you’ll be able to. And, as soon as once more, simply exhibiting how leisure opens the doorways to offer individuals accessibility to issues that have been tried on earlier than they have been launched. It is actually superior.
BM: Perhaps it is leisure. As a result of we we’ve a reference to Nike, at LAIKA we’re owned by the Knight household, that are founders of Nike. And I keep in mind Stratasys would say we’ll offer you guys entry, we’ll offer you these voxel dongles, you guys can do that, however do not inform Nike. And possibly it was simply the worry of Nike being such a machine and having a unique use of 3D printing that they felt like we have been the playground. They did not care if we have been messing round within the sandbox, however ‘we do not need different purchasers to know as a result of we’re not able to assist this.’
JL: Appropriate. And I believe that nails it.
Leisure and with an individual such as you, with an individual like me, as soon as we get entry, we method it on our personal, we go underneath the hood. Simply open the door for me, and I am going to handle it and I am going to attempt to determine it out. If it really works, nice. If it would not work, nice. Construct that Bible of understanding. That is how I used to be in a position to get in and print on material in 2010. And really use it in a direct TV business, the place individuals had piston robotic arms. And we simply inexperienced screened, erased out, the inexperienced sock that it was printed on, 3D pistons, and actually taking issues to the subsequent stage.
After we acquired that first 3D printer inhouse, my focus wasn’t even on the 3D printer. My focus was ‘how can I now develop this pipeline that feeds it otherwise to make it extra environment friendly for artists? How can I get individuals understanding how one can take scan knowledge, and now retopologize it in a manner that we will construct this digital asset library to exit to the printer or any expertise if wanted, and by no means look again.’ After which, as you talked about, the Connex3, I confer with it as for those who wished to return in time and get the Andre Agassi colours or Buzz Lightyear colours, the Connex3 was good for you for those who have been utilizing it at default, as a result of that was the entire 80s vibe of colours with that restricted palette. However then I noticed what you have been as much as. And I used to be identical to, ‘wait a second. One thing’s occurring right here as a result of you’ll be able to’t try this at default.’
BM: Properly, it is humorous as a result of Angela Novak was advisable by Nike as a result of she was making an attempt to use to Nike and so they could not rent her. And he or she had labored with you. And also you advisable her and she or he got here in and I keep in mind Angela got here in she mentioned, ‘oh yeah, they’re doing shade at Legacy [Effects], it is comparable.’
After which we began exhibiting her what we have been doing, and she or he’s like, ‘oh, no, this is not the identical. Jason would actually love this.’ It is like, ‘no, you’ll be able to’t inform Jason, we are going to get in bother. Like, please do not inform him.’ I actually wished her to as a result of I wished you to know however I used to be like, ‘no, we won’t.’
JL: Angela, she got here on board, she was within the conventional mannequin store and she or he wished to study new expertise. And it was nice as a result of having her and having the ability to actually push the boundaries within the PolyJet world, I at all times referred to as it pushing minimums. How can we go thinner? As a result of in PolyJet, you’ll be able to print it, the arduous half’s cleansing it, and conserving it from warping. And he or she was my Clyde, I used to be Bonnie, and we might push it, and she or he would discover a strategy to clear it and ensure it held its integrity.
When you see the film Night time on the Museum, I believe it is Night time on the Museum 3, there’s these gold Pharaoh items of those crowns that the Queen’s sporting, no matter her character is, that’s most likely 300 PolyJet items at pushing beneath minimums of what they are saying you’ll be able to print, and gold-plated. It’s completely phenomenal work however that is enabled by a tag group duo with me and Angela and actually understanding it.
I take advantage of this analogy on a regular basis and it is humorous you come full circle. When individuals ask me on a regular basis, ‘oh, what do I must do to turn out to be profitable in 3D printing?’ I say it’s essential personal your gear, it’s essential study that gear just like the again of your hand and time bend with it, you turn out to be a wizard or sorcerer with the gear, as a result of then you definately return to your groups and say, ‘that is what I can do,’ pop it proper on the factor and let their brains meld on that for a little bit bit. And they’ll now be impressed to attempt issues to feed you. And you’ll create this synergy and do what even the OEMs say is sort of not possible.
