Every great project starts with a simple question: What are we going to MAKE? For SLUGME 10, our team filled a 3DLEAN board with ideas, explored countless concepts, and eventually one idea kept stomping its way to the top... DINOSAURS. |
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At first, we explored creating something functional, like a dinosaur-themed bench. But the more we talked about it, the more we realized we were limiting ourselves. If we were going to build a dinosaur, why not go all in and create something truly unforgettable?
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From there, the sketching began. Rough concepts quickly turned into digital models inside SOLIDWORKS xDesign as the team collaborated from different parts of the world. Ideas evolved daily. Features were added, removed, and refined. T-Rex influences mixed with raptor-inspired traits, and before long, a completely original creature started to emerge! Dan Wagner named this beast SLUGASURUS REX, and we were off.
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What made this phase so exciting was the collaboration. Every design review sparked new ideas. Spikes appeared. Horns were added. Proportions changed. The dinosaur became more aggressive, more dynamic, and more unique with each iteration. It wasn't about recreating a dinosaur from history—it was about creating one that had never existed before.
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At the same time, we weren't just designing something that looked cool. We knew we would eventually have to build this thing in the real world. Every decision had to balance creativity with practicality, from the overall pose to the internal structure that would support the final sculpture. Sal and Gian worked closely to develop a structure for building the sculpture's armature. Gian also sliced all the foam sections into manageable parts so Sal and Chinloo could cut them out on their CNC router.
We decided the best approach would be to 3D print some of the most complex parts of the dinosaur, including the hands, feet, teeth, and massive head. Not only would this help us capture greater detail, but it would also save a tremendous amount of time during the fabrication process.
To make that happen, we reached out to our friends at GoEngineer for help. Their expertise in additive manufacturing and large-scale printing played a huge role in bringing these critical components to life. Having access to professionally printed parts allowed us to focus on refining the design and integrating everything into the final build, while ensuring the most intricate features of the dinosaur looked exactly as intended.
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By the end of the design phase, Frank the SLUGASAURUS REX had officially been born. What started as a collection of ideas on a digital board had become a fully realized concept ready for fabrication.
And honestly, this is one of my favorite parts of any project. It's that moment when imagination starts turning into something tangible—when a sketch becomes a model, and a model becomes a plan.
🦖 Watch now! 🎬
Next up:
The build phase begins, and things are about to get real. 🔥🦖
