The ever-increasing vary of purposes for 3D printing spans many various industries and professions. For Stefan Ulrich, AKA RandomDesign, 3D printing has enabled him to create some really epic laptop case mods.

Initially from Germany, however presently residing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Stefan works full-time on commissioned initiatives making case mods, props and 3D printed costume items. His initiatives have included case mods that appear like Poe Dameron’s X-Wing from the present Star Wars trilogy, the W.O.P.R. laptop from the traditional film, WarGames, a life-sized Venom bust, and plenty of extra. Stefan has additionally designed and fabricated props and costumes for characters from Overwatch, Batman, Harry Potter, Alien, The Final of Us, and even the Grinch. Stefan has been incomes awards for his designs since 2014, and he has grown a popularity as somebody who pays consideration to element and makes reproductions which can be very true to the supply materials.

In 2012, when the Ultimaker 2 and the Prusa i3 had been launched, it was Stefan’s first publicity to 3D printing, and the preliminary spark of creativity for utilizing 3D printing was ignited. “I used to be nonetheless on the college after I began to understand my first artistic initiatives and at the moment, I initially turned conscious of 3D printing and the good alternatives it gives.”

However his begin in case modding was solely the start. “I began constructing case mods in 2014 and later expanded my enterprise to incorporate making props for costumes or small film productions. With each challenge I’ve constructed to this point, I attempt to embrace new supplies and be taught new methods. After I received my first 3D printer, I primarily printed small detailed components or components that had been simply harder to make from different supplies, corresponding to wooden or glass fiber. Working my manner up from there, I’ve already accomplished a number of absolutely 3D printed case mods and props. Additionally it is an excellent method to provide masters that I then can use for mould making and casting. 3D printing simply opens up big prospects for my work in each areas, case modding and prop making, and permits me to right away notice all the designs I made in 3D.”

Whereas engaged on his grasp’s diploma, Stefan was in a position to accomplice with 3DGence. “Partnering with 3DGence was actually my place to begin of diving into 3D printing. In 2018, I began a really fruitful collaboration with Sindoh 3DWOX who supplied me with two of their printers in addition to various kinds of filament. Since then, I noticed a number of big 3D printing initiatives, just like the Venom bust and the Star Wars X-Wing that are virtually utterly 3D printed.”

Stefan primarily makes use of a Sindoh 3DWOX 2X and a Sindoh 3DWOX 1, that are fully-enclosed FDM 3D printers. This enables him to get constant 3D prints utilizing ABS filament. “As a result of my partnership with Sindoh 3DWOX, I’m primarily utilizing their filament. I’m printing so much in PLA, however switching increasingly more to ABS as a result of the post-processing is less complicated and sooner in comparison with PLA prints. I to this point haven’t felt the necessity for utilizing different supplies, like PETG, PEEK or nylon, however I positively wish to look extra into resin printers for future initiatives.”

One of many overarching causes Stefan’s designs are so profitable is his in depth use of post-processing methods. “All of my 3D printing initiatives are extremely processed. My objective is all the time to make my items appear like they weren’t 3D printed. I begin with a fundamental sanding, adopted by wet-sanding. After assembling particular person items, all bigger gaps are full of two-part epoxy putty, sanded once more, and coated with a number of skinny layers of spray filler. After filling the remaining spots with spot putty, one other spherical of wet-sanding follows. I repeat these two steps till the floor is easy and completely even. Then, I begin priming and portray.”

The satan is unquestionably within the particulars for Stefan. His consideration to supply materials for his 3D prints, in addition to his post-processing routine, has garnered him over two dozen awards from a number of case-modding occasions and publications. His work in 3D printing has really elevated his means to get correct fashions as he explains. “With the suitable settings and an ideal 3D mannequin, 3D printing actually can enhance your challenge. For instance, I constructed a tabletop-size reproduction of the WOPR from the 1983 film WarGames and my first model was fabricated from glass fiber and physique filler. Nonetheless, it was extraordinarily tough to satisfy the suitable angle for each nook and to realize a wonderfully even and easy floor. As a result of I used to be completely unhappy with the unique final result, I made a decision to rebuild your entire case in 3D and print the person components. On this manner, all angles and corners turned out precisely as they’ve been designed in my 3D mannequin.”

Stefan additionally sees 3D printing as an indispensable device for his present and future initiatives. “3D printing primarily helps me to understand my concepts and crafting initiatives on any scale I need. 3D prints are additionally very mild and that’s why 3D printing was additionally my technique of alternative after I was constructing my Hunter Warrior pocket book within the fashion of this 12 months’s Alita film. Apart from that, I additionally use 3D printing generally to simply print some helpful objects for my workshop corresponding to fan ducts for my energy instruments or a fume hood for my soldering iron.”

“Since 2018, I’ve been making case mods and props professionally. For a lot of of my shopper’s initiatives, I both use 3D printed components or notice the entire work by 3D printing. 3D modeling and printing turned very helpful, particularly after I’m requested to incorporate sure features right into a prop. For instance, I constructed for the Overwatch fan movie “Lion’s Return” the weapons of the characters Widowmaker and Tracer which had been presupposed to have the identical features as within the online game. So, I designed and examined the mechanisms in my 3D fashions and realized them by 3D printing.”

However the place does Stefan see 3D printing going sooner or later for the common consumer? “I feel if somebody needs to begin with 3D printing now, it’s fairly handy. There are increasingly more inexpensive printers available on the market, each FDM and SLA. Web sites like “Thingiverse” supply an enormous number of free 3D recordsdata for printing. When you additionally wish to dive deeper into 3D printing and create your personal 3D fashions, studying a 3D modeling software program is now not that tough as a result of virtually limitless sources and tutorials on-line as of late. And the most effective half for newcomers, most of them are totally free.”

As for 3D printer performance, Stefan voices most of the similar needs for traditional options sooner or later; filament runout sensors, versatile construct plates, print restore after energy failure and wifi connectivity. Getting that ‘One’ 3D printer with all of the bells and whistles can be a boon for newbie and superior customers alike.

The longer term appears to be very thrilling for Stefan, as his journey into 3D modeling and design is basically simply starting. “I all the time have a number of initiatives happening on the similar time. I’ve simply completed the WOPR and the Star Wars X-Wing case mod. At present, I’m engaged on the total physique armor of Batman from the film Batman vs Superman. As well as, I’m constructing some smaller props proper now, just like the C-10 rifle from the character Kerrigan from the sport Starcraft 2. I’m additionally already in preparation for my subsequent case mod, which will probably be one other 3D designed and printed bust of an EVA-01 unite from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.”

We are able to’t wait to see what Stefan creates subsequent, so you’ll want to keep up to date on Stefan and his wonderful initiatives by following @Random2k4design on all social media platforms.

You can even go to his web site, which hosts quite a few different galleries of some extra unimaginable initiatives at www.randomdesign.org