Dollpimp2018 wrote:I read in the doll4ever website that they 3D print their doll heads. I don't know what they mean by that, but the future of printing with flexible materials is coming, this is why I thought it was possible to do it at home:
Hi Dollpimp,
They may be 3d printing a master used for molding, but they aren't printing finished TPE heads.
The TPE/TPU used in 3d printing is not the super soft stuff they use for molding the finished product.
For filament printers the TPE material needs to be stiff enough to support itself during the printing process. It's about the same hardness as the rubber sole on your tennis shoes and it's very tricky material to print with. Colors are also very limited.
If you really want to get into 3d printing you can get a printer like the one I have for less than 2K that will be perfectly capable of printing a full size head.
I think it's even on sale right now...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N ... yes&sts=ps
Here's my Zoya head in my Up Box+ printer for scale...
- IMG_4603.JPG (499.93 KiB) Viewed 2687 times
Forget messing with TPE, either printed or molded, and forget sending something to a place like Shapeways.
It would end up being hideously expensive and won't be anything like what you are expecting.
With your own printer at least you can have fun experimenting fairly cheaply until you get what you want.
Printing a mold is possible, but not an easy task especially if you are a novice. Working with a positive shape is much easier than a negative shape.
You may want to experiment at a reduced scale at first as you will probably go through many iterations before you get something that works.
You'll need to design a skull with the attachment for your doll which will need to be suspended inside the mold.
Perhaps you only mold the face and attach it to a printed head/skull. That way you don't have to print a whole head for every face you come up with.
If you want the head to be usable for oral you'll need to design an orifice which will add another level of complexity to things.
Lots of things to think about.
Hey, and if things don't work out with the head, you can always use it to print out a Turbo Tampon!
viewtopic.php?p=1221053#p1221053
Or maybe try your hand at a My Size Barbie mod?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=69416
Fun stuff!