2. Digital bodies: Concept

Digital bodies is the process of making human figures or bodies of creatures, by imitating or creating (3d modelling) bodies through 3d modelling softwares, by scanning or by making 2d into 3d form.

Inspiration Images and links of Artists who work with Digital Bodies.

For my digital bodies project I worked on Make human and exported it as .stl, which was then imported into meshmixer to cut out the torso section. However due to some unkown error, the body appeared cut-out/incomplete, which is why the end result did not work. Although the body had some errors, I used slicer to create the necessary outcome.

In makehuman, the body type can be designed by altering the existing parameters. The size of each body features can be manipulated to create a custom body type. The above is the body figure that couldnt be fixed in meshmixer but yet used in slicer. On slicer the size and type of material to be lazer cut, are chosen initially. Then the ratio of the figure is adjusted to create a real size human mesh. This is further manipulated by sekecting the type of construction technique. For my assignment I have chosen folded panels. Adjusting the vertiex corners leads ot better desired constrution panels. After analyzing the number of cuts and material sheet required, the file is exported by clicking on "get planes" and exporting it as a pdf or dxf or eps files. The exported dxf file is then opened on the lasercut software. and the cutting layers are adjusted to cut the desired outcome.

However due to the machine stopping, the end result was semi cut.

I then re-created the whole assignment Following are images and videos showing the process. Using the structure scanner, I scanned a manniquin.

Scanning Process:

To scan,

  • Downlaod Structure Scanner App on the Ipad :- scince I used the ipad (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/scanner-structure-sdk/id891169722)
  • Connect the Structure Scanner to the ipad (https://structure.io/structure-sensor/mark-ii)
  • Make sure you have a secure email connected to the default email app of the ipad(this will be needed to transfer the files)
  • Next open the Scanner app, proceed to caliberating. All the steps are stated in the caliberating process. (Pick a corner and straight edge and alight the scan)
  • Once the initial caliberation is done, reopen the app and scan any object or anything. Please see in video the trials.

Structure Scanner Trials from Rabab on Vimeo.

Emailing the scanned work from scanner app from Rabab on Vimeo.

  • The model will be recevied via your email in a zip folder containing, as .mtl and .obj files.

Fixing the Scanned Model

  • download Meshmixer on your desktop (http://www.meshmixer.com/)
  • Open Meshmixer
  • Import the file (as shown in video and begim manipulating and distorting and fixing using the desired tools.)
  • In the below video you can find the different ways to manipulate the scanned outcome, by using the sculpt tool. The manniquin was again distored using the edit tool, and selecting the whole model and using remesh. Using the various brushed and setting the following 2 videos show the manipulation.

MeshMixer Mannequin Manipulation from Rabab on Vimeo.

Meshmixer Manipulation using Edit Tool. Rabab Abdulla from Rabab on Vimeo.

The fixed manniquin is then saved as .stl which is then opened in Slicer.

Slicer

  • Download Slicer on your desktop (https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=8699194120463301363&os=Win64&appLang=en)
  • open Slicer and import the .stl file.
  • Take a look at the video below to provide a detailed description of the type of sheet size (how to fix it/choose), choose type of cutting (whether panelled or stacked), and adjust the sizes.

Slicer: Working with Scanned Mannequin from Rabab on Vimeo.

  • Normally the red peices indicate error (although it may not be always right)
  • Once you have found your desired outcome, click on "Get Planes" to export the file to be used for the laser cutter.
  • In the video at 19:48 you can view this. Laser cutters require different file type based on the laser cutter. The earlier cutting that I used needed DXF file, while for doing this second trial, I exported it as EPS, because I opened it in Adobe Illustrator and used the Fusion Lazer Cutter.

As I cut the pieces, it again did not work out. I will soon update another updated one.