Oct 7, 2016 | By Nick
Every committed 3D modeler has felt the pain of creating the perfect figurine only to find it just won’t stand up. Now Disney Research has developed a unique method for embedding movable metal ball bearings inside 3D printed figurines to help them balance.
The company behind the likes of Mickey Mouse has published a research paper on the subject, called: Balancing 3D Models with Movable Models. Right now the practical application is in development, but we should soon have software that does all the calculations for you.
Right now we either have to change the design of a model that just won't stand up or, more commonly, fit a base plate. That works, on land, but it means we can only present the figurine one way and it does detract from the overall design.
It certainly doesn’t give us any control of how the model behaves in water and it takes all the flexibility out of the model in terms of how we can display it. Simply placing ball bearings in a figurine’s feet could be all it takes for some people, but the software will be cleverer than that.
With the simple algorithm you will finally be able to present your characters as you want them. Disney produced a breakdancing teddy bear to illustrate their point that could stand in six separate positions with the help of two different cavities. It sounds simple, but there’s actually some seriously complex math at play as two different cavities of different sizes can interact with each other to create a multitude of different centers of gravity.
With embedded movable masses, we have the unique capability to satisfy multiple balanc...
SOURCE: 3ders.org ( go on reading...)
