Translating laser cut concepts into silver

Last month I had the opportunity to attend a workshop at Atelier Rudee in Bangkok, Thailand. 

It was a very interesting experience, I was trying a new technique making models from wax and later on casting them into silver. Since I already had sketches from my Thailand-Cambodia trip I was translating my concepts by using a cutter for the wax sheets , thinking about geometry, layering and construction. 

I really like the way that you create something from such a fragile and sensitive material as wax, and later on it just melts guiding the warm silver to fill all of the contours. I was very surprised by the accuracy of this method, miniature details made on the wax pieces are present once the designs are casted in silver. You can even notice your fingerprints in some parts.

In the end I got two rings casted into silver. Hope you enjoy my concepts and designs. 

Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween guest post for Trotec Lasers

Create a unique Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween

​​​​​​​​​Nothing signifies Halloween like a glowing Jack o'Lantern with a unique pattern. In this tutorial we show you how to create a unique Halloween pumpkin using a laser.

 

Required material  

- pumpkin

- pumpkin carving kit or sharp knife and  large spoon or ice cream scoop

- duck tape 

- tooth brush

- a candle or LED lights

Trotec Laser Used:

Speedy 400, 80 watts, 2-inch lens

Step 1: Find a perfect pumpkin

Buy a pumpkin from your local supermarket or from a farm shop. Try to find one that's a good size with little visible damage/marks. The perfect pumpkin has a smooth surface and a uniform coloring.

Step 2: Place the pumpkin in the laser

Put the pumpkin in the laser and position it with some tape, if necessary.

Open our template or design your own pattern, and then send the file to the laser.
(http://www.troteclaser.com/en-US/Laser-Samples/Promotional-Items/Pages/halloween-pumpkin-laser-engraved.aspx) 

​Parameters used:
Engraving: Power: 100% - Speed: 25% - Frequency: AUTO - Air Assist: ON - Passes: 2

For a perfect engraving result, we've activated the "High Quality" option.

	Step 3: Wash it After processing it with the laser, it is necessary to clean the pumpkin with lukewarm water and a toothbrush.
	Step 4: Prepare tools Take a sharp knife and a spoon. You will also need 2 bowls - one for the seeds and the other one for pumpkin pulp.
	Step 5: Hollowing Cut out the lid at the top of the pumpkin and take all the seeds and the pumpkin strings.You can use a spoon, but it is easier just using your hands. After that  use a spoon to clean out the inside of the pumpkin. Scrape away the walls and put the pumpkin pulp into the second bowl.
	Step 6: Let it glow Wipe the inside of the pumpkin down with a kitchen sponge. Place a candle or a LED-light inside the pumpkin and close the lid. Now your Jack o' Lantern​ is ready for Halloween! Happy Halloween!

Tips and Tricks:

Sprinkle some cinnamon on the underside of the lid. Some people claim this makes the pumpkin last longer.

Hollowing out the pumpkin can be quite exhausting. An ice cream scoop can make your job easier.​

Don't throw the pumpkin pulp away - keep it and cook a delicious soup​.

Design .pdf and Job control guidelines can be found at : http://www.troteclaser.com/en-US/Laser-Samples/Promotional-Items/Pages/halloween-pumpkin-laser-engraved.aspx

Story 7 : Fitting all parts together to get the final model

It has been a while since we posted the sequence story of the church model we have been working on.

Please find more pictures from the sequence story No.7 where you can see how the whole envelope of the church is coming together with the external, internal walls and the roof structure is "waiting" for the final touch.