Production Process

3D Functional Art print process

The Making of 3Divination Functional Art

Production Process

Rune Boxes: 2.5-3 days 8”x8”x1 1/8” 1lb

Design stages took about 6 weeks with one prototype that was changed in structure. It took 6 prototypes to realize what changes were needed and to finalize the way of making a finished product.

3D printing is still a difficult medium to get consistent results. It requires a lot of attention during the first few layer of printing. On a Casting box these first few layers take about 2 hours to print. The box overall takes about 22 hours to print with the lid taking about 23, because of the higher detail involved. Each box takes about 3 days to make completely. After the initial 2 hours the printing process needs to be checked and possibly adjusted in some way every few hours to improve the quality and probability of a successful print. Even removing the objects from the printer surface can break, damage, stain, or scar them. To achieve the most reliable removal I choose to freeze my prints. I use a water based glue to help attaches the print to the surface so freezing it separates the print from the surface. If I then allow that to dry completely I can reuse it a couple more times before a new coat of glue is needed.

Once removed and warmed to room temp there is a decent amount of cleaning and picking that needs to be done to remove small spider web like strings caused by the printer moving from one surface to another and bumps caused by small pieces of material that fall from the printing head as it moves. This can take as long as an hour in some printing filaments and styles. The more detail the more cleaning typically, so the lid always takes longer than the box.

The box has a table top resin layer on the casting surface. To achieve this without the resin seeping through to the outside surface I apply it in two steps. First step is to coat the inside bottom and side walls with a thin layer of resin. If there will be inlay of ink in the words then this step also includes a process of blowing the resin out of the inlayed words and doing so until the resin has set enough to not flow back into the words. This step needs about 12 hours to dry. Then the words can be inlayed with ink or not and another layer of resin can be poured without leakage. During all the setting stages the box has to be perfectly level.

Casting Lid: 23-24 Hours

After a day of printing it can often take an hour to clean and finish all the surfaces.

Casting Runes 3D Printed: 6 Hours 1.5”x1.5” .1oz/

Involution Set: 35 Hours

Plate 7.5” 3oz, Med Dice 1 7/8” 1.6oz, dice 1 1/8” .4oz, Stand 4 ¼” x 6” 3oz

This set is printed in 4 different printing sessions all on the same printer and from the same spool. The plate, the dice, the meditation dice and the stand. The golden ratio was used to create the size of the meditation dice in comparison to the dice.

All Zodiac Stars 3D printed: 12 Hours 4.5”x4.5” 2.7oz

The stars were designed by using the negative space created from lining up 6 dice in a circle. using the opposite corners touching. This creates a star with six 90 degree angles where the dice fit perfectly.

Evolution Dice Resin: 20 Hours 1 1/8”x1 1/8” 1oz

Starts with pouring and mixing resin. Pouring into molds and agitating for at least 15 minutes. Needs 18 hours to set and be ready to unmold. 5 sessions of sanding and polishing finishing with a sealer. Words are then ready to be inked and cleaned.

Casting Runes in Resin: 18.5 Hours 1.5”x1.5” Avg .2oz / 4oz in bag

Same process as dice except no sanding or polishing. Just ink in the words. This set is printed in 4 different printing sessions all on the same printer and from the same spool. The plate, the dice, the meditation dice and the stand. The golden ratio was used to create the size of the meditation dice in comparison to the dice.

Stackable Chakra Candle Holders Resin: 84 Hours 4.5”x4.5”x6.5” 1lb 7oz

Single Candle Holder Resin: 12 Hours 4.5”x4.5”x.75” 6oz

All Candle Holders Gypsum: 22 Hours 4.5”x4.5”x2” 14.2oz / x.75” 6oz

Mixing and pouring gypsum into molds and agitating it for at least 15 minutes to remove air bubbles and even distribution. After unmolding they need at least a 12 hours to dry. Then up to 6 coats of paint and sealers. Each layer must dry before next layer is applied.