>This might be an interesting thing to consider. 8-)
>
>There is a prototyping process called stereo lithography.
>
>A laser beam is computer directed into an open container of liquid polymer.
>The polymer solidifies wherever the laser hits and the end result is a
>3-D replica of the computer image.
This was patented by C. Hull of San Gabriel, Calif., in 1986
>Aside from all the obvious ramifications and questions like what is the
>polymer, (..uhhh....what is the polymer anyway? .-), if an artist got hold
>of one of these machines to produce "artwork" as opposed to making a
>prototype for machine reproduction.......
>
>...would this list be the place for that person to hang out or is this
>list a "flat", 2-d place only?
There are 3-D lists but I had a limited amount of success in finding
information from them a few years ago. I remember posing the question and
then one list owner, offlist, told me that the question was "perhaps" not
appropriate to his list... After some answers started to appear on his list
however he begged me for any info I might have gotten offlist! Just goes to
show...
One fellow suggested it was possible to rent time on one of those
machines. I never followed it up.
Along the same line is what I have classified as Photosculpture processes.
They started in Paris in 1861. Believe me you don't want anything to do
with he original contraption! One modern system I found, was developed by
Lloyd and David Addleman, of Monterey, Calif, ca. 1987. The info scanned
from a digitizer is fed to a milling machine which carves any 3-D image
into a variety of materials, although high density poluyrethane is usually
preferred. The final work can be given a metallic finish, often bronze,
although chrome, copper and gold would work. The first to use this
technology was Echo Sculptures, of Vancouver, Canada. A busts started at
around $600.
Another system, called Solid Photography used 8 cameras around a subject
illuminated with a stripe-and-shadow pattern from 4 sides. The negs were
(are?) scanned in a computer which then ran a milling machine with multiple
cutters to produce a plastic reproduction. This could also be used
finish-coated or used to create a mold for casting with a variety of
materials.
These processes certainly qualify as Alternative processes... Some people
on this list, perhaps associated with depts like mechanical engineering,
might be able to bring us up to date on these technologies.
Luis Nadeau
awef6t@mis.ca
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
http://www.mi.net/dialin/awef6t/