Props 3D Printed Resin Head Display Stands

I recently got an Elegoo Mars 2 Pro and have been learning Zbrush.

I have more heads than bodies and I have some heads I don't really want to get rid of but don't have a strong enough concept to want to buy a body (also space x_x). But cast resin head stands run around $40-$60 each which builds up and I don't want to put all my dolls on identical bodies, y'know? Printed resin head displays run me about $7 of resin for this 1/4 size.

3D printing resin is not as strong as the resin dolls are cast in, but I figure head stands aren't under nearly as much stress from the elastic. Maybe some day my sculpting skills will level up to designing a whole BJD, but let's not put the cart in front of the horse.

The build plate seems to be able to easily print 1/6 and 1/4 size. For 1/3 or 70cm, I haven't figured out the best option yet. I guess the easiest option is to print larger neck with less body to make it fit. Or maybe a 2-part print. Certain angles are harder/easier for the printer so even though I know the build volume for the printer, it still takes experimentation and playing around with supports and print settings to know for sure. I had some print failures due to not using enough supports so this current test had the most excessive amount of supports possible (which his back is covered in pock marks).

The sculpt

Screen Shot 2020-10-16 at 3.45.51 PM by Kaxen6, on Flickr

The print

20201016_152644 by Kaxen6, on Flickr

20201016_152635 by Kaxen6, on Flickr

20201016_152650 by Kaxen6, on Flickr

With a head

20201016_153940 by Kaxen6, on Flickr

20201016_153948 by Kaxen6, on Flickr

 

Thanks!

I will be showing off how the next one goes too. And I want to experiment with resin dye to get more color options.

Current ideas. I think I want to do a ghost themed stand for my transparent DSDoll Ferret head and maybe a suit & tie head stand.

headdisplayideas by Kaxen6, on Flickr

Small 3D printers aren't too bad of a wallet punch. The first version of the Elegoo Mars printer is $170 and the Mars 2 Pro I have is faster and has a more long-lasting light for curing resin is $280. Zbrush was the expensive part since it's the Photoshop of 3D sculpting and $179 for the limited version and nearly $900 for the big full version... There are freeware and less expensive options though.

There are some people offering free print files for BJD stuff, but there's not a lot of it so far. I guess it's a niche of a niche. Figures and tabletop RPG minis are way more popular.

I plan on offering my print files for head displays for free once I finish tweaking them and all that.

 

Haven't been able to print it yet because my machine started going squeaky and Home Depot is gonna take a week to mail me the grease I need, but I started sculpting the ghost stand.

 

The ghost stand was a more ambitious sized print.

It was about 10 hours to print split into half so it's 5 hrs and 5 hrs. Still need to sand away the last little blips of supports so I can glue it down super flush.

The 3D printing resin is a little yellower. Something about UV cured resin makes clear skew yellower than with the type of resins used for molds from what I have seen in-person and read in reviews of different resins, but eh, close enough.

I'm using Siraya Tech Simple for this print because Elegoo doesn't have a water-washable colorless clear. Siraya Tech Simple requires only like 15% isopropyl alcohol and was cheaper than all the other clear resins so I gave it a try.

Photographed next to a Granado head stand.