Tracking costs
Costs
Digital
STL file (through 3D scan)
Probably between ± 20 euros and ± 250 euros
- Someone who makes the 3D scan
- Someone who edits the scan
- Someone who draws the 2 cylinders of the standard
- Someone who saves the file for you in STL format
- If you know someone who is familiar with 3D scanning and printing, you can ask them if they can help you. A thank you is nice or just pay money for the knowledge and time.
- For a professional scan you pay on location or via an invoice. Please note if the costs include or exclude VAT.
- The scan must be edited in a CAD program. CAD stands for Computer Aided Design. You create and edit technical drawings in CAD.
- You might just be lucky with someone in your own network. Or you are a pioneer. A little bit of both?
- You may find all this knowledge and skills in 1 person when you go to a professional company.
3D scanner (mine was made with the Artec EVA)
CAD designer / illustrator / engineer
CAD program / software
Styrofoam
Torso
When you start figuring out how to create your dress form, all the information can sometimes overlap and suddenly be a lot.
Keep an eye on your checklist! Because if you forget something during the scan and STL file phase, it can cause problems when the styrofoam cutting machine is turned on.
So check, check & double check!
Probably between 400 euros and 1,000 euros excl. VAT
Request quotes
- Companies can often only make a real quotation with the correct file, but sometimes they can make an estimate based on height/width/depth.
- The more detailed, the higher the price. If the STL file is edited in such a way that more contour remains, than small details, this will reduce the price. It’s a choice: Do you want details on your replica, so that you can adjust your clothing exactly to it? Or are you more concerned with proportions and the big picture?
- You actually order a prototype. A one-time object. Cutting machines must be set up for this. And because only 1 is made, the indivual price is higher than if you would order a whole series of something.
- Because 1 torso is set up on the machine, you can often order 1 or more scale models for a small additional charge. A scale model is fun and useful, because you can design clothes for yourself on a small scale. A 1:2 or 1:3 is already nice and you don’t need a lot extra space for it.
Price quote
Detailing
Scale model
Hard plastic, metal & fabric
Assembly & finishing
Are you handy with cutting hard plastic (PVC) tubes/pipes to size? Are you good at negotiating at online marketplaces? Or are you just really good at searching for bargains or items in the thrift store? These are all useful things to control your assembling and finishing.
From ± 30 euros up to how expensive you make it
Search, find & create
- You can use the stand of your existing dress form or buy a second-hand stand at the thrift store or online. Or if you’re lucky, someone will give you an old dress form, which base you can use. Of course you can also buy a brand new one.
- There should be 2 tubes in the styrofoam dress form, so that you can slide the dress form onto the stand. 1 in the center of the dress form, at the bottom. And 1 in the middle of the leg, so you can make pants. Measure the stand, you are going to use, carefully. You can, for example, buy PVC pipes at the hardware store. NB: Ask for help from someone with technical know-how if you cannot figure it out yourself. It would be a shame if you won’t be able to use the torso as a real dress form later, by skipping this step.
- You can buy the dress form cover or make it yourself. It is advisable to pull one over the styrofoam, as styrofoam can eventually crumble and become damaged. With a cover you can keep everything together nicely. You can find all kinds of instructions about this via Google and YouTube. Keywords “dress form cover”.
Stand
Hard plastic (PVC) tubes/pipes
Tape or caps for the tubes, so that they do not cut into the styrofoam
Dress form cover
Reminders
Tips & Tricks
This was not quickly made and you probably do not have the knowledge and skills to do this all by yourself. You need different types of help and services. That’s why these reminders.
Seek & find
Ask a lot. Look around a lot. Search a lot. This way you can gather information that you can use in every step of the process.
Organize
Keep all information and notes in one place. Or in a maximum of 2 places: 1 physical place: a notebook, a folder. And 1 digital place: an inbox folder, a computer folder, a spreadsheet.
Thank
Always thank everyone for information and thoughts. A ‘thank you’ can easily help you to even better information or referral and that will certainly benefit your project.
My personal cost overview (project from November 2022 to April 2023):
This website is a passion project,
not for profit.
#PaspopOpMaat
#CustomDressForm
#3Dpossibilities
#inclusivefashion
#dopaminedressing
#adaptivedesign
#zinin (especially for my favorite puzzle)