Lucky we were to meet Robert Jackson, who is leading this amazing project around OpenR2.

Discover Robert interviewed by @HA ​​​​​​​

@RJ is the Founder of OpenR2 Community project. On display will be OpenR2 project’s painstaking recreation of the original 1977 R2-D2 cinematic prop. The digital twin they have worked on has been captured using the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform and CATIA. The physical replica has been prototyped on FormLabs resin printers with final production parts manufactured by Xometry.

In 1999, Robert purchased the drawings from Norman Harrison, owner of Norank Engineering, the company contracted by 20th Century Fox to build the original R2-D2 props. Robert needed accurate scans of these drawings so that the digitized files could be used for baseline dimensional or measured information on these blueprints and 3D scans of objects used to make the actual prop.

His project was showcased in the Makers Zone during the 3DEXPERIENCE world to present authentic components of R2-D2 in aluminum with sheet metal Bending, drilling, taping, and brazing activities. 

OpenR2 project is proudly accelerated by the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab.