IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN BUILD IT
Conducted and compiled by tpr media – April 2015
24 March 2015 Cancer Research UK Commercial
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09 March 2015 BBC3 "I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse"
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28 January 2015 Ex Machina
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Artem has started incorporating 3D printing into its work for the film and game industries
3D MAKER Industry interview
The 3D printer Artem works with uses ABS plastic, which is particularly robust
INDUSTRY INTERVIEW
PRINTING OUT PROPS Mike Kelt explains how Artem used 3D printing to create props for Ex Machina and the Halo 4 launch
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f you ever wanted an example of a studio at the cutting edge of technology, Artem would be a good candidate. Most recently working on Macbeth and In the Heart of the Sea, the 25-year-old company has also created special effects for Prometheus, Troy and Hot Fuzz; animatronics for the Churchill the Dog commercials; and in 2012, helped to bring to life the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics and Paralympics. Lately they’ve started to integrate 3D printing into the mix, such as when they produced a number of props for Ex Machina. These ranged from high-tech card readers, which were internally lit by a switchable red/
You can finalise renders for client approval knowing the finished item will match accurately The design studio created the Halo helmet and costume for the launch of the Halo 4 video game
MIKE KELT CEO and co-founder of Artem, Mike cut his teeth in the theatre as a designer and production manager. Before Artem, he worked on BBC shows such as Doctor Who and A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. www.artem.com
blue diffused LED, to security cameras, which were secured to the walls and the ceiling of the film set. 3D printing was used in the early stages to make quick test models of the props, before producing the real things, explains CEO and co-founder Mike Kelt. “3D printing is generally used for maquettes – scaled down models of a finished piece,” says Mike. “However, for some projects, the 3D printer’s also capable of producing the final product, before hand-finishing the details.” Generally, they’ll get a specification from a client, which is often very broad. “Next we draw designs using 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design), to produce visualisations for their approval. We then bring the design into the physical world, whether by 3D printing directly,
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or moulding and casting. “If necessary, we can introduce electronics, before giving the item a good finish by hand, often with spray paint and adding specific graphics. The beauty of CAD is you can finalise renders for client approval, knowing the finished item will match accurately.”
Combining technologies
Artem uses a Dimension SST 1200 3D printer and a Zscanner 700. “It suits our needs as it’s quick, relatively cheap to run, and compatible with the software we use. The 3D printer can produce physical items from a client supplied digital file; if necessary we can convert a digital file with our conversion software enabling the printer to read the relevant information.” “The 3D printer produces items that are approximately within one cubic foot in size, and accurate enough to produce separate pieces that can be fixed together to produce a larger, final model. This technique was used when we made the Halo helmet and costume for the launch of video game, Halo 4. Our 3D printer uses ABS plastic, which is very robust, especially compared to the starch used in earlier models.” Mike expects 3D printing to be increasingly important to Artem over the next few years, though it’s about picking the right pipeline and tool for the job. “Depending on the project, it may be appropriate to use our 3-axis CNC router or our KUKA robot arm.” Often a combination of technologies can be used within a project for different purposes. “Last year we produced a maquette of a whale using the 3D printer before carving a full-size 56ft whale for a film, using our KUKA Robot arm.” “As people get to know the uses and the limitations of 3D printing, there’s no doubt it’ll be more frequently used.” Find out more about Artem’s work at FYI www.artem.com
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