One very interesting project we have manufactured was a chess set. This set consisted of replica pieces from a collection of artifacts Sigmund Freud had collected during his lifetime.

The original pieces are on display in the Freud museum in London and cannot be moved. As each piece is unique, the original items had to be 3D laser scanned in their positions in the museum to give us the data we required.

Using this 3D data we then created files from which we could CNC machine the clear set from acrylic. These solid pieces were then highly polished to resemble glass. The coloured set were produced from SLA (Stereo Lithography) prototypes, as this is more cost efficient than CNC machining all 32 pieces.

In order to match the weight of the acrylic set we filled the hollow SLA pieces with resin, as our client had specified the colours and finishes of the coloured half of the chess set these pieces were then painted by an artist to achieve the look of original ancient artifacts.

Each piece varied hugely in both design and size, the largest piece was approximately 6 inches high, with the smallest measuring at just over an inch.