Sculptor uses 3D laser to cut a work of art

摘要

BRITISH sculptor Alastair Mackie used the 3D laser cutting capability of Lairdside Laser Engineering Centre's Prima Laserdyne machine and Camtek's PEPS SolidCut 5-axis CAD/CAM software to produce his latest work. Entitled "Bipolar", the work comprises of a genuine US Marine's helmet into which has been cut an Islamic style fretwork pattern. The piece was exhibited at the Mark Moore Gallery in Los Angeles in Alastair's solo show. The concept was straightforward: take a 3D scan of the helmet, superimpose the fretwork pattern and then cut it. However, the steps leading to the programming of the 3D laser cutting machine were not so straightforward.