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Thursday, September 30, 2021

The Custom Order Continues...

Not much in the way of content for this week's post (a relief to some, I am sure, lol!). With limited mini time, I just continued the work designing architectural elements to be 3D printed for the Park Avenue Dollhouse. Last week, I completed the main doorway pediment and trims. That left a large window cornice and it's sill with corbels, seven small window cornices and their sills with corbels, eleven roof corbels and finally pediments and trim for the main and basement doors.

Large window, mock-up door and roof corbel.

The customer mailed both doors, the large window and one of the slim windows to me. This way, I can test fit the 3D printed pieces for a perfect fit. These elements are included in the Park Avenue kit.

If you recall, the customer wants to pay homage to the brownstone's facade from the movie Breakfast At Tiffany's. Because the Park Avenue kit is not an exact replica in scale or layout, some adjustments had to be made.

Park Avenue Kit Left, Breakfast At Tiffany's Façade Right.

By making rounded cornices for the tops of the square window frames, I think the look has been achieved and, once installed, will be recognized as the BAT facade in spite of the structural differences.


For the sill with corbels, the customer will just remove the sill and trim piece from the bottom of the kit's window and replace them with the 3D printed upgrade. 


From beneath, you can see that there is a recess that will fit down over the top of the original kit window's frame for easy installation. 


The six windows that go in the bay protrusion of the facade will have simple rounded pediments for the tops and bottom sills with corbels. I made 3 designs, and the customer picked design C.



The basement window will be much the same.

There was not enough space above the door frames to create a rounded cornice for them. Instead, I took the lintel feature from the doorway pediment and made that into a decorative piece that can be attached to the top of each door frame. In addition to the corbels that hold the pediment up, there are pedestal pieces which attach to the bottoms of each of the door frames. They are also based on the design from the pilasters that frame the main doorway's pediment piece. The doors themselves are going to be much closer to the BAT inspiration door, but for those, I'll be cutting them with the Cricut Maker. I can create them in Tinkercad, then just export them in the file format used by the Maker - .svg. 



For the corbels that will support the roof cornice, I used the same acanthus leaf bracket to comprise the details. They are the exact measurements as the more simple brackets that came with the kit, just fancier.



Kit's corbels:


Now, the real test will begin. Finding the right combination of settings in the slicer program will be the next hurtle. I've got five separate files to print, two of them twice. What I need most now is all the prayers, finger crossing and luck I can get! Hopefully, by next week's post, I'll have actual, physical pieces to share with you!

The corbel file in the slicer program.

After two hours of printing. Still 6 hours and 50 minutes to go. This file gets printed twice!

In the meantime, I finally got the 1/8" x 1/8" oak and maple in the mail from Bill and Walt's. That means I can start on the butcher block countertops for the Beachside Bungalow, time permitting. With an application of wood wax, the depth of color and richness should really come out!



So much exciting work to do, so few spare hours in the day! Happy October everyone!!!

xo xo,

Jodi


32 comments:

  1. Jodi,todo se ve tan emocionante! Las ménsulas, las cornisas que estás creando, darán el aspecto definitivo a la fachada tal como quiere el cliente, me encanta el diseño.
    Ya tienes las maderas para las encimeras, enseguida veremos tu magia!!
    Feliz Octubre!!
    Besos.

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    1. ¡Gracias Pilar! Lo más difícil de encontrar actualmente es tiempo, y más específicamente, ¡tiempo libre de distracciones! ¡Con suerte, la impresión 3D no necesitará cuidado de niños y puede funcionar mientras yo hago varias tareas en otras cosas!

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  2. Thank you fo sharing this project. I am really enjoying something totally out of my 'zone'. Also looking forward to the butcher’s block creation.

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    1. Me too, Marilyn! I'm glad you find it interesting! But does learning and anxiety always have to go hand in hand? I guess there's no way around it when you're prone. Fingers crossed I actually do learn something!

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  3. ¡Lo tienes todo tan bien definido! ¡Todo va a salir bien!

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    1. ¡Gracias Isabel! ¡De tu corazón a los oídos de Dios!

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  4. Happy October! I love how the windows and doors look. Gorgeous!

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    1. Thanks Sheila! I hope October is much kinder to you thank September was! I am excited to see the designs printed to see how 1/16" actually looks on the pieces. A rendering is just not certain enough to know if the detail looks right.

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  5. No puedo ni imaginar las horas que debes dedicar a planear y finalizar tus proyectos.
    Todos son increíbles y maravillosamente realizados.
    Feliz fín de semana.

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    1. ¡Gracias Eloisa! Se necesitan una cantidad significativa de tiempo, pero como siento alegría cuando estoy trabajando en ellos, ¡cada momento es una bendición! ¡Supongo que es bueno que todavía no tenga nietos a los que adorar!

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  6. Jodi, you really have moved into uncharted territory with the project. I can imagine an entire new career for you building custom pieces or writing a book on how to create 3-d mini pieces. My soon to be 15 year old is taking a robotics class where she has access to 3 different 3-d printers. I'm not sure if she will learn all of them, but I can imagine the possibilities were I to buy one. However, it's the design software that holds me back. Your work is amazing and your client will be most satisfied with work.

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    1. Thanks Ann! You can say that again! But there is nothing like high excitement to motivate you to find answers and learn new skills. It makes for many butterflies in the tummy, but such a great sense of possibility and accomplishment in the end! A new career, though? No. I have found that there is nothing that kills passion quicker than making it your job. A custom challenge now and again though is a blessing.
      How exciting for your granddaughter! Soon, she can teach grandma all she knows! The two of you can do a dollhouse project together where everything in it is robotic and 3D printed and designed by the two of you! Talk about a project to enter in the county fair!
      I have zero doubt that after only watching a few videos and playing in Tinkercad, you would blow your mind with what you can do! You are a professor, after all! :O)

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  7. Tiene un aspecto fantástico, así que creo que no necesitas que crucemos los dedos , lo tienes muy bien planificado.; el resultado será magnífico.
    Genial también poder seguir con tu encimera de carnicero.
    Buen fin de semana ,besos

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    1. ¡Muchas gracias por tu confianza en mí, Rosa María! ¡Espero hacerte sentir orgulloso! Estoy emocionado de comenzar con las encimeras porque se siente como si me hubiera estancado en el bungalow.

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  8. Even when you think you don’t have much content to share, I learn a lot. This project is so interesting. You will get there 🤞🙏🤞🙏.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement, Sherrill! I am so glad that you are finding this process interesting, and I hope you get an opportunity to try making something and then 3d printing it, too!

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  9. Hi Jodi! This project is looking fantastic! And Waaaayyy outside my realm of expertise! LOL! But I can't help noticing a little something that might bother me if it were my project... it looks like the window cornices could be a little "shallower"... because the window frames on the RL building have a deep sill, but not an overhanging cornice... if you see what I mean? On the other hand... with the smaller scale of the kit build, it might look more balanced to have the sills and cornice the same depth off the surface. Just thought I'd mention it... in case it matters! I am so looking forward to seeing the printing ....printed... (it just seems strange to call these shapes printed!) pieces when you get them done! What a challenging process! :):):)

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    1. Hi Betsy! Thanks! I am glad you are liking the project! To be honest, this is way outside of my expertise, too! I am so new to designing and 3D printing, even though my first pieces were made 6 years ago for my Alki Beach project (can you believe it?). I think the only reason the customer felt comfortable asking me to do this work is because she has ordered every piece I offer from my Shapeways shop. But I am so grateful for the opportunity, as I won't quit until she loves the work, and being challenged in this way helps me learn so much.

      Thanks also for sharing your thoughts about the window pieces! I think I know what you mean about having the pediments and sills standing proud the same distance from the building. It is so difficult to make pieces with only measurements and imagination. I think you are saying that the pediments should sit on top of the frame rather than slide down over the top of the frame? And that the sill should be the same depth? The pediment in the rendering is .281", just a hair over 1/4". The sill is .375" - 3/8", but 1/8" of that will be beneath the 1/8" frame. I am going to suggest that she add 1/16" x 1/4" trim on both sides of the frame. She will paint it "stone" to match the sill and pediment. This will create the look of an inner frame to paint green like the BAT windows. I will be making a mock up facade with cardboard once I have the printing completed, just to put actual eyes on the way everything looks together. The customer and I will have to decide at that point any changes and adjustments. Right now, it's just a best guess what it looks like and if everything will look balanced. I'll be sure to share the process so we all learn together!

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  10. Hi Jodi,

    The door surround in your last post was something mind blowing, but these additional sills and corbels are another thing to be sure. Wow!

    From this side of the great pond I send you all the prayers, crossed fingers and good wishes I can. Toi toi toi.

    Huibrecht

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    1. Thanks Huibrecht! We'll see what it all looks like once the pieces are printed and put on a mock up. That will reveal the flaws and opportunities still to be dealt with!

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  11. Hi Jodi, I will be keeping everything crossed that the printing goes (went) to plan and will look forward to seeing the pieces you have designed and created. I still can't wrap my head around that we are now able to print this sort of 3D stuff at home. Crazy, really.
    I had a quick look at the Bill & Walt's link, so many fabulous timbers but $65 for shipping to Australia, I think I will need to start looking locally!
    Anna X

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    1. Thanks Anna! The prints so far, have taken about 8+ hours per file, so one a day. A long time, but it does blow your mind to think that each piece is made of many, many .08mm lines of melted plastic!

      That is such a tragedy that the shipping companies can't figure out more affordable shipping rates in our global economy! I hope you can source a local supplier! It is so nice to work with a variety of great quality wood species!

      And if ever you want me to be your collecting hub, to save items and ship them to you periodically, I'd be happy to do it. Sending one big box a couple times each year has to save money over several small shipments!

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  12. Looks like you are doing lots of great work! Love all the 3-d printed stuff

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  13. Windows and door are perfect. A great work!

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  14. I can't tell you how excited I am to watch the progress on this commissioned project. You are so truly inspiring. My head just swims with possibilities whenever I read your posts. Jodi - you are truly a wonder and a treasure! - Hugs - Marilyn D.

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    1. Thanks Marilyn! It makes me so excited to share the excitement and cause you to be excited, too! I hope for all our sakes that this ends up being a successful endeavor and that the customer gets her dreams fulfilled! It's been a challenge that has both invigorated and educated me, and makes me push a little farther in thinking what might be possible!

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  15. It's just amazing the way you meet this challenge. Very soon, I can see customers standing in line for the chance to order these special embellishments for their mini homes. Thanks again for sharing your plans and ideas.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks for you kind support, Drora! It is fun to meet these challenges once in a while, but I sure miss having time for my own project, lol!

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  16. Great work with the 3D printer. Unchartered territory for me. But love to always see how you make things.
    Mini huggs,
    Conny

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    1. Thanks Conny! You never know what opportunity might come or when new interests will hatch. I am glad you're here to adventure with me and who knows? One day you might just catch the 3D fever yourself!

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