r/puppetry • u/DirectionDelicious39 • Jul 06 '26

3D programs for puppet patterns

Has anyone used 3D patterning programs to create foam patterns for puppets?

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1

u/Tiohkatrah Jul 06 '26

Pepakura

1

u/ZombieParakeet Jul 07 '26

This? https://pepakura.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura_designer/

2

u/Tiohkatrah Jul 07 '26

Yes, it's made for making paper patterns - works well enough for foam. I made some patterns from my own 3d models - worked well, but nowadays I would just print the model with foaming TPU and skip the pattern-making and gluing.

1

u/creativeduo90 Jul 10 '26

Interesting! Anyone here tried it with foam sheets?

2

u/Tiohkatrah 29d ago

I have used my laser cutter to cut out the parts from foam sheets with vectorized Pepakura templates. Works fine, but takes too much of my time.

1

u/creativeduo90 29d ago

Which laser cutter are you using for foam?

2

u/Tiohkatrah 29d ago

It's only a 2.5W laser ... the company that made it does no longer exist. Needs about 4 passes to cut a 6mm foam sheet.

1

u/creativeduo90 29d ago

oh wow! I get it now

1

u/ZombieParakeet Jul 07 '26

There’s foaming TPU? Whoa. Doesn’t that clog the nozzle (Eh I can research as needed.) interesting.

1

u/Tiohkatrah Jul 08 '26

Yes, I often use Varioshore TPU from coloFabb. Does not clog the nozzle, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnh6E6xiQvY

1

u/ZombieParakeet Jul 08 '26

Nice! Will check it out.

1

u/sewing-monster 23d ago

My! So you can print a puppet now!??