posted
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 ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- Jon Peterman 200 Summit Loop Grants Pass, OR -------------------- a.k.a. dc-62 success is in Jesus Christ Posts: 434 | From: grants pass or. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
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.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Talk about a perfect match- you & MultiCam!!!!!! Ferrous oxide never sleeps!
[ November 14, 2010, 08:40 AM: Message edited by: Catharine C. Kennedy ]
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- aka:Cisco the "Traveling Millennium Sign Artist" http://www.franciscovargas.com Fresno, CA 93703 559 252-0935 "to live life, is to love life, a sign of no life, is a sign of no love"...Cisco 12'98 Posts: 3576 | From: Fresno, Ca, the great USA | Registered: Dec 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
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 ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
There is no doubt about it, Dan is the man, the one and only. There is no end to his creations. Bill
-------------------- Bill Riedel Riedel Sign Co., Inc. 15 Warren Street Little Ferry, N.J. 07643 billsr@riedelsignco.com Posts: 2953 | From: Little Ferry, New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Actually Raymond - Chrome plating would be an awesome look.... I think it would give a modern, yet menacing appearance to this prehistoric piece....
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
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
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm just wondering if it'll be faux rust, or real rust-I've learned to not presume anything!
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
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
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
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"!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
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
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
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
-------------------- Sandy "Monk" Baird Windwalker Sign Studio Port Colborne, Ontario L3K 4H9 Posts: 442 | From: Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
That is just truly amazing. I wish I a had an ounce of your creativity Dan!
-------------------- Charles Borges de Oliveira Borges Lettering & Design Snohomish WA Posts: 352 | From: Snohomish WA | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
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
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
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 ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
| IP: Logged |
posted
Hi Dan, My son wants to know if Rusty will have teeth!
-------------------- Charles Borges de Oliveira Borges Lettering & Design Snohomish WA Posts: 352 | From: Snohomish WA | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
-------------------- Pat Welter Masterhand Signs and Designs Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada Posts: 1304 | From: Unity, Saskatchewan.Canada | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Applause]](graemlins/applause.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic