2. Digital bodies¶

Research & Ideation¶

Tools and Techniques

For this assignment, I explored digital body creation through laser cutting and 3D printing techniques. The software tools I used included Rhinoceros, MakeHuman, Slicer for Fusion 360, and Blender. These tools allowed me to design, refine, and prepare a model for fabrication using laser-cut construction methods.

For this week I wanted to dive into the fantasy/fairytale realm for inspiration. My research led me to artists like Robin Wight, who creates stunning wire sculptures of fairy-like figures, and Adam Martinakis, whose digital art explores surreal, dream-like human forms. Inspired by their work, I decided to focus on the theme of “Soulmates” for my design.

but because this is my first time with anything 3D and laser cutting I'm going to first to a basic women's torso, and once I have learned how to 3D design properly, I'll work on my theme

get inspired!

Check out and research alumni pages to better understand how to document and get inspired

3D print and laser cut - Mina smith - FabLab Kamakura
Artistic Slicing - Jiawen Gong - Textilelab Amstardam

References & Inspiration¶

In addition to my initial research, I was influenced by the artistry of Gaylord Ho and Adam Martinakis. Ho’s sculptures capture emotional expressions through fluid, lifelike forms, while Martinakis’ work in digital sculpture blends realism with abstract, ethereal qualities. Their ability to bring out subtle details in human anatomy inspired my focus on the female torso for this assignment. To me, the female body is a powerful form, representing both strength and grace, and I aimed to highlight this in my model.

Process and workflow¶

For my design, I decided to create a female torso, emphasizing the natural curves and contours of the body. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of my workflow

Body Creation in MakeHuman:¶

I started by experimenting with MakeHuman, which turned out to be a fantastic tool for generating a base human model. I found it user-friendly and efficient, allowing me to create a realistic female body structure with customizable parameters.

After exporting the base model from MakeHuman, I imported it into Blender for further refinement. Here, I used Blender’s sculpting tools to smooth out any imperfections and enhance certain areas to create a more polished, lifelike appearance. I focused on adjusting proportions and surface textures to add a realistic quality to the torso.

Mesh Optimization:

Once I was satisfied with the shape, I optimized the mesh to make it suitable for fabrication. This step involved reducing the polygon count, ensuring the model maintained its form while being manageable for slicing and construction.

Exporting to Slicer for Fusion 360:¶

After refining and optimizing the model, I exported it to Slicer for Fusion 360. In Slicer, I explored various construction techniques, ultimately deciding on the vertical stack method for its structural integrity and visual appeal. This technique allowed me to create a layered, sculptural effect for the torso.

2D Adjustments in CorelDRAW:¶

With the sliced model prepared, I exported the design as a DXF file and imported it into CorelDRAW for 2D adjustments. Here, I made final tweaks to ensure that the file would be compatible with the laser cutter. I then saved it as a PDF, ready for laser cutting.

Laser Cutting Setup and Process:¶

I used a Full Spectrum laser cutter with settings of 20% speed, 100% power, and 100% current, requiring one pass per cut. This project involved cutting a total of five plywood boards of 3mm thick. Three boards took around 1 hour and 15 minutes each, one took 58 minutes, and the final board took 20 minutes.

Stacking and Gluing:¶

After cutting, I began the stacking and gluing process. This step was meticulous and required precision to ensure each layer aligned perfectly, bringing the torso sculpture to life as a three-dimensional piece.

3D Scanning¶

I was also interested in experimenting with 3D scanning to see if I could capture finer details or create a base for future projects. However, from observing other students’ experiences, I noticed that the results from the available scanner were not as refined as I hoped. Despite this, I gave it a try, but ultimately, the scanner refused to connect to my laptop on multiple tries so i had to give up. I plan to explore other scanning options in the future to see if I can achieve a cleaner, more detailed result.