Iron Man Helmet: 3D Printer Style
If you’re not familiar with 3D printing, basically it’s a fairly new technology that’s becoming more and more accessible to the “everyman”.
Detailed computer files can very accurately reproduce a given object in plastic. Large spools of plastic are used to produce the finished product.
Of course, this is a vast oversimplification of how 3D printing and printers work, meant only to introduce the reader to the topic. Don’t worry if you don’t have a 3D printer, they are coming soon to stores like Staples, making them widely available so if you’re serious about making items from scratch you’ll soon have your chance without breaking the bank.
For now, here are the major benefits of this technology:
- Detailed reproduction in three dimensions of just about anything you can imagine
- Comparatively less expensive than purchasing many items from a store
- The power to rapidly prototype your inventions in your own home
You can read more about 3D printers and printing in three dimensions at Wikipedia.
Credit for the source of the information in this article goes to Instructables.com.
Beginning with a detailed computer file which contains the information needed to make the helmet, additional details are “fleshed out” to make a more sturdy finished product.
The helmet itself is printed in several pieces which must then be glued together, much like a model car. Below (Figure 2) is the Iron Man mask assembled and primed for paint.
Figure 2
The creator also added light up eyes using light emitting diodes (LED’s), which you can see in Figure 3.
Figure 3
There’s plenty of work that goes into a project like this, from printing to painting and sanding. If you have the patience to really work hard on this project, you’ll be very impressed with the results.
The creator of this particular 3D printed Iron Man helmet knows his stuff and did a movie quality job- as always, your results may vary but just imagine all the fun you could have along the way, even if you’re just learning.
Rough version prior to finishing
The finished product lights up and the face even opens!
