HR Giger Guitar

myminifactory

HR Giger Guitar Tribute: A Metalhead's Dream Come True. Colleague Lee Plastow at MyMiniFactory.com created an amazing Ibanez-inspired model using Autodesk Inventor, and we decided to collaborate on a sculptural project. As both fans of HR Giger, the Alien concept fit perfectly with our metalhead vibes. The sculpting process took me a few days to complete, focusing on details and reliefs that brought this 3D printed masterpiece to life. Let's Dive into the Tutorial: Finishing a 3D Printed Guitar in Zbrush To get started, you'll need to order these essential parts from Amazon: 1. Volume and tone pots 2. A Stratocaster Neck Plate (screws included) 3. A neck 4. A set of humbuckers 5. A set of strings 6. A set of string tuning pegs 7. A bridge 8. 3 knobs Download the parts, print them out, and let's get assembling! Step 1: Modelling Solid Parts and Importing STL Files in Zbrush We'll start by modelling the solid components using Autodesk Inventor and importing four STL files into Zbrush. Step 2: Sculpting Separate Parts with an Alien Twist Once we have our solid parts in Zbrush, we'll split them into four subtools and use dynamesh to begin sculpting on top of each one. I'll be using Clay Tubes with Backface masking to work on the upper part of the guitar. Step 3: Removing Material for a Faster Print To speed up the print time for the largest parts of the body, we'll perform a subtractive dynamesh. This will help us achieve a more complex design while minimizing print time. Step 4: Adding Final Details Before exporting our four STL files, I'll work on adding some final details to the upper faces of the guitar, maintaining an organic flow between the parts and replicating patterns inspired by Giger's work. Step 5: Optimizing in Netfabb Now that we have all our components ready, let's import them into Netfabb for a final check. We'll fix any issues with orientation, border edges, or shells to ensure a seamless print. Step 6: Printing on the Delta Wasp The biggest parts of our guitar are approximately 40 cm tall, and only a few supports were generated on the base of the outer parts. This will make for a smooth printing process. Step 7: Assembling the Parts Now that we have all four parts printed in the Delta Wasp, it's time to assemble them using the long holes on the sides. If you encounter any resistance, simply smooth out the joint's borders and use a hammer to merge the parts. Step 8: Soldering Pick Up Cables with Volume and Tone Pots We'll be soldering the pick up cables to the volume and tone pots, making sure everything is securely connected. Step 9: Designing or Downloading Final Components Our colleague Simone Fontana designed the white cover for the humbuckers in Rhino, while I redesigned the volume controller in Zbrush. Now it's time to attach the neck and strings!