Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted March 11, 2014 Hash Fellow Posted March 11, 2014 Charles Babbage (DrPhibes) works at a shop that fabricates many large display items for various clients. Charles designed this giant mechanical dragon in A:M for the Disney World theme park. He modeled it in A:M, then exported to a large milling machine. "It is milled out in polystyrene foam, than we use that as a pattern to layup fiberglass. The finished parts are fiberglass with a fabricated steel frame. The head is carbon fiber," Charles told me on Facebook earlier this year. Quote
Admin Rodney Posted March 11, 2014 Admin Posted March 11, 2014 That is crazy impressive! Way to go Charles! Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted March 24, 2014 *A:M User* Posted March 24, 2014 Saw this dragon and it really is beautiful! Quote
Admin Rodney Posted March 24, 2014 Admin Posted March 24, 2014 I can't find them now but there where several articles online that used this dragon as an example of game changing technology. Charles is leading the way and it's exciting to see that he's using A:M to get there. Quote
fae_alba Posted June 11, 2014 Posted June 11, 2014 Just got back from the magic (and HOT!) place in Orlando. Thought I'd share a quick clip of the float in action. maleficent_float.mov Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted June 11, 2014 Author Hash Fellow Posted June 11, 2014 that's a beast! Quote
DrPhibes Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks for the kind words. I try to use A:M when ever it makes sense in our workflow. This dragon started as a smooth, primitive foam scale model (looked like a white Brontosaurus) that was free of any surface detail. I laser scanned the model and then using the snap to surface feature of A:M I created my patch based model of the original foam real life model. This base model is then sent to my mechanical engineer as a solid model (generated using a workflow we have developed with a few other tools) who begins to design the frame and structure inside the dragon. Simultaneous to that I build all the detail into the model (every thorn and rivet) and most importantly rigged the model to run it through all it's motions to check for clearances and collisions of the body parts. When everything is ready, I export STLs and send to a get milled on a variety of large CNC machines including a really cool robot arm. Then most of the parts get laid up with fiberglass directly (to save molding costs) and then assembled and painted. Obviously there is a lot more to it, but that sums it up. Unfortunately with this particular project I cannot publicly share any of the process images or A:M renders. I like using A:M, and have been for more than 20 years now, but it's just one tool in my large toolbox. I don't think I would be able to use A:M as much as I do without the support of a few other tools. Right now about half of my projects run through A:M in some way. I am working on 2 large Disney attractions right now that don't open until 2016 and A:M has been an important part of the process. I also have a large sculpture for the Wynn casino being built in Cotai China that was originated in A:M. You can see more of what we do at www.michaelcurrydesign.com Thanks, Charles Quote
Fuchur Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 hi charles . thank you very much for the explaination. i am curious about your process but of course i understand that you cant share. did more than once something cool in a:m which i could not show due to contract bindings. the result is very amazing . keep up the cool work *Fuchur* Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted August 23, 2014 Author Hash Fellow Posted August 23, 2014 Let us know when you have more cool "run through A:M" to show! Quote
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