I've often stated that in our shop a 'sign' is anything we can design and build that promotes our customer's business, product or service.
When it came time to 'sign' the office of our local MultiCam dealer the gloves were off. I decided this room would showcase their CNC plasma cutter. I wasn't about to haul one of those heavy things up to the second floor. Instead we would showcase what one of these amazing machines was capable of. My client provided the machine and I simply got to play - no holds barred.
My client's desk would become the 'sign'. It would be fabricated from 1/2" thick steel plate. I first whipped up a concept and presented it to the client - not sure if I went too far this time...
My client LOVED the concept and gave us the green light. They fired up their brand new CNC plasma cutter for the first time yesterday. The very first project was the desk. It was awesome to see the massive machine cut through steel like it was butter. The end result was this 312 pound pile of 'bones'.
It has been a year since I designed the files and I couldn't remember how they all went together but I sorted things out according to size and shape and then I remembered how I was going to do it... I went through the scrap bin and found a 1 inch steel rod that was the right length. This was run through the bender to curve it and then it was time to break out the welder. It came together pretty fast on the work bench...
In less than two hours the skeleton was complete. I'll be sourcing out a supplier for the 3/4" tempered glass top next week. It will be a desk and a 'sign' like no other in these parts...
Much to Raymond's chagrin the steel desk will be rusted as a final finish. Since the purpose of the sign is to sell CNC plasma cutters I want there to be no dispute over what it is made of... and rusty steel will make that perfectly clear in an instant. Besides I LOVE rusty steel!
-grampa dan
[ November 13, 2010, 11:40 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Jon Peterman (Member # 528) on November 14, 2010 12:14 AM:
AMAZING!!!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on November 14, 2010 12:55 AM:
Too cool!
I forget which business it was that did this but one of the companies known for a lot of their steel chassis/suspension parts for sport trucks built a Velociraptor skeleton in much the same way. They used one of the wooden model kits, scanned every piece then scaled the whole thing up to life size. All the pieces fit together exactly like they did in the small wooden version.
Posted by Catharine C. Kennedy (Member # 4459) on November 14, 2010 08:38 AM:
Talk about a perfect match- you & MultiCam!!!!!! Ferrous oxide never sleeps!
[ November 14, 2010, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Catharine C. Kennedy ]
Posted by FranCisco Vargas (Member # 145) on November 14, 2010 09:53 AM:
That is slick!!
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on November 14, 2010 01:03 PM:
Neat Dan - say, I have a few vertebrae that need replacing.... possible? :-)
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on November 14, 2010 03:13 PM:
LOL Todd. I'm next in line!
Fabulous! A mind like no other you have.
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on November 14, 2010 07:34 PM:
Un real my eyes have see it all now outstanding
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on November 14, 2010 09:51 PM:
The matching coffee table was next. It's not a complete skeleton... musta been lunch for the desk!
It measures 17" T x 28" L x 20" W
This is one coffee table you can put your feet up on without fear of being yelled at. The 3/4" thick glass top and fasteners will be ordered on Monday.
-dan
[ November 14, 2010, 09:53 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on November 14, 2010 09:53 PM:
Cool, Dan.... very cagey!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on November 15, 2010 07:37 AM:
dangit Todd took my line.. cagey character! Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on November 15, 2010 09:18 AM:
As soon as I saw it it, I said, "Yep, he's going to make it rust". I would have chrome plated it, but then I'm not Dan, am I?
Well, first of all, I would never have dreamed up the idea.
Posted by bill riedel (Member # 607) on November 15, 2010 10:33 AM:
There is no doubt about it, Dan is the man, the one and only. There is no end to his creations. Bill
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on November 15, 2010 10:38 AM:
Actually Raymond - Chrome plating would be an awesome look.... I think it would give a modern, yet menacing appearance to this prehistoric piece....
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on November 15, 2010 05:32 PM:
Chrome would be very cool but wouldn't fit in with the warm colors we are going with on this project. I suspect chroming would also be a little more expensive to do than rust.
Just imagine the RUSTY raptor with a 3/4" thick glass top and a nice iMac sitting on top... with windows surrounding it and our awesome mountain views...
Pictures to follow when we install... most likely next week sometime.
-grampa dan
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on November 15, 2010 07:05 PM:
Sure, sure, Dan. Just imagine the CHROME Raptor with a 3/4" glass top.
Chrome is warm. It reflects whatever color is near it.
And since when did price make a difference?
But you want rust...so rust it will be. Some folks just won't listen to reason. Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on November 15, 2010 09:17 PM:
I'm just wondering if it'll be faux rust, or real rust-I've learned to not presume anything!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on November 15, 2010 10:33 PM:
The rust we have done on the whole MultiCam project is real rust... (as opposed to fake rust done by sponging different colors of browns) although most often it has been only the paint that is rusty. It's blotchy, with drip marks and everything. It's absolutely fabulous from my perspective (not so much from Raymond's) Folks just can't believe we can rust MDF, HDU or whatever.
In this case it is real rust on real steel.... just for the record. We've named our raptor 'Rusty'.
-grampa dan
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on November 16, 2010 07:34 AM:
are you going to do some more decorative support stands for Rusty?
I think another dino on its back on the ground, underneath Rusty as if it were prey, would be a cool way to "hide" support structure to this... "monstrosity"!
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on November 16, 2010 09:13 AM:
How does the glass top attach to Rusty?
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on November 16, 2010 11:19 AM:
We've ordered some standoffs from Duncan, in Edmonton. They look to be plenty strong and are a very neat way to attach the glass. I'll be welding some small plates where the three standoffs go the glass will be one inch above Rusty. I'll post some pics after we do the install.
-dan
Posted by Sandy Baird (Member # 4773) on November 16, 2010 12:20 PM:
Dan, What could look kind off cool on your table, would be, where you have the A post supports to hold up the end's of the table, could be plasma cut steel in the shape of oversized inverted Wish Bones. Would add that touch of humour that you are noted for, and should spark some extra conversation.
Monk
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on November 17, 2010 01:53 AM:
I personaly like the support stands as is. They look like an official structure to hold up a rack of bones.
Realism even. Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on November 17, 2010 07:29 AM:
Sure Donna, but a couple big ol' wishbones would be more fun. Posted by Russ McMullin (Member # 5617) on November 17, 2010 08:11 AM:
Mike, I was thinking the same thing. The skeleton is beyond amazing. In contrast, the supports look unplanned and temporary. I was thinking they could be fern fronds or some other type of plant.
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on November 17, 2010 11:32 AM:
I think that is the neatest thing you've ever made. True art. Well done. Posted by Charles Borges de Oliveir (Member # 3770) on November 17, 2010 12:57 PM:
That is just truly amazing. I wish I a had an ounce of your creativity Dan!
Posted by Steve Luck (Member # 5292) on November 17, 2010 06:53 PM:
I was thinking it would be cool to make the bones out of clear plexiglass pieces for the "Ice Age" look. Funny how a photo of someone's project gets everyone thinking of new ideas. Great job Dan!
Sign-cerely, Steve
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on November 17, 2010 08:42 PM:
I appreciate the suggestions regarding the stand for the raptor/desk. Some of those thoughts crossed my mind as I worked and the suggestions made me go back for a second look.
In the end I left it as it was for two reasons. One is that from what I've seen most specimens have similar stands. That gives it relevancy in my mind. The other thing was that I estimate the glass top will weigh in at around 5oo lbs. This thing needed to be very, very strong!
The boss's office will feature a number of 'jurassic art' pieces on the walls to continue the theme. We are doing a series of 16" x 16" panels that feature fossils for one wall. The files were created using a number of layers of bitmaps. They were then routed on the CNC. We'll paint and stain them to look like real rocks.
The fan blades are routed palm leaves to add a splash of color on the ceiling.
In the opposite wall from the fossil panels there will be a (two foot tall) mounted skull of a triceratops - Phoebe's favorite dinosaur. I'm doing a smaller copy for her bedroom wall for her birthday.
I routed the pieces from 1.5" Precision Board yesterday and laminated them up to form a good sized skull. I then did a little quick shaping with a n air powered die grinder. Then this afternoon I had our new girl Kirsten mixing Abracadabra Sculpt for me and we got half of the piece coated and sculpted in just over an hour. We'll polish off the piece tomorrow, leaving just the painting to finish. While we worked the router was busy creating the wall mount. It's going to be a pretty cool piece!
-grampa dan
[ November 17, 2010, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Sandy Baird (Member # 4773) on November 17, 2010 08:44 PM:
Hey Steve
How about a caveman with a bloated belly passed out under the skeleton with a half eaten rack of ribs lying beside him.
monk
Posted by Charles Borges de Oliveir (Member # 3770) on November 17, 2010 09:06 PM:
Hi Dan, My son wants to know if Rusty will have teeth!
Posted by Pat Welter (Member # 785) on November 17, 2010 11:29 PM:
Sounds or looks like you have a runaway train on your hand Dan... Good to see you busy, and the above is exceptional...Can't wait ta see it painted, and the boss must be jump'n out of his skin...Truely nice work.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
