This is a beautiful joining of computer aided simulation, rapid prototyping, mathematics, and artistic beauty.
He takes a mathematical model and creates a steel powdered laser sintered model of the design, dips it in molten bronze to add strength to the sintered piece (it was 60% steel powder and 40% air before that) and then it it ‘smoked’ with sulfur and ammonia vapor to add color and then polished and textured with hand tools. Finally they are acid washed to produce a nice patina.
His work with laser-etched glass blocks are amazing as well. I’m surprised that he doesn’t crack the crystals with the density of the etch points…
Any one of these would make a fantastic gift for the science fan in your life. (hint hint!)
Bathsheba Grossman – Sculpting Geometry