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04-27-2010, 03:46 PM | #11 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: I'm a MASS-HOLE!
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Each action figure contains a special ingriedient; "LOVE".
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04-27-2010, 03:58 PM | #12 |
Cobra puppet therapist
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Area 51, Nevada
Posts: 10,127
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Quote:
Here is my educated guess.
1) All the various components are injection molded. 2) They parts are taken to another line that proceeds to pre-paint most of the components that require paint. I imagine there are stations that divide the work into categories such as broad painting all the way to finer detail work. 3) The parts are taken to an assembly line where they are assembled by gluing and snapping the parts together. 4) There is probably a final paint line that finishes up some of the painting such as parts that had to be joined together with glue 5) There may be a pre-packaging area where the figure and accessories are put into the clear plastic trays. They would also apply rubber bands where needed. 6) They go to a final packaging machine where they are put into the plastic bubbles and heat sealed to the card. I could be completely wrong, but that's the way I always thought that it worked. Now I have been in a lot of other types of factories in China, and you might be surprised by just how much of it is very low-tech hand work. My guess is that there is not a lot of automation other than the injection molding process. A: be fed into a computer that controls a lazer sculpter to make the master mold, or B: With higher end figures like McFarlane and MOTUC, the master mold will be hand sculpted by a master craftsman. |
04-27-2010, 04:02 PM | #13 |
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I bet the process is copy written, or even a secret somewhat.
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04-27-2010, 04:12 PM | #14 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 1,565
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I worked in Plastics for 5 years. Didn't make action figures, but I can give the basics on the process from that end of the spectrum.
Yes they are done with injection molding, which means the molds are cut from metal. In many instances, there are multiple cavities for a single part... ie, for Docs flare gun thing. Each cavity will have a some type of numbering system on it for quality purposes. (this helps the press operator and mold techs determine which cavity is responsible for rejects etc so that the problem can be quickly fixed) (I'm not going to go into the quality control stuff here unless you really want to know) Finished parts would go to an assembly/secondary operation area to be painted/assembled/sonic welded etc. At least that has been my experience, but again it was not for action figures. And prior to a production run there is always some fun testing done on the press to get the process or program set for the press. This is where you see those oddly colored first shot type of figures. They don't necessarily use the proper colored material, just the proper type of material. |
04-27-2010, 04:12 PM | #15 |
Artillery Gunner
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,401
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There was an episode of Science of the Movies where the host had an action figure made of himself. It was done with a lot of modern techniques though.
Episode Guide: Science of the Movies : Science Channel |
04-27-2010, 04:21 PM | #16 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 1,565
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I should probably also point out that the 'shot time' or amount of time it takes for the mold to be filled, cooled, open and eject the parts depends on the the size of the part of course, but for most of our action figures, it would probably be around 45 seconds for each shot.
Just a little more info... |
04-27-2010, 04:27 PM | #17 |
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04-27-2010, 04:33 PM | #18 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: San Francisco
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I don't think How It's Made would like to show underpaid/underaged factory workers making our toys while being whipped.
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04-27-2010, 04:47 PM | #19 |
hillbilly-franken-wastoid
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: mizizzy, get bizzy!
Posts: 871
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this thread is very interesting to me. sculpting action figures= dream job. anybody else wanna get into this type of shit?
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04-27-2010, 05:54 PM | #20 |
Mountainlander
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: formerly of Chile
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What are the master molds made of? Steel?
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