One of the most important props in the movie used multiple technologies to complete.

“The Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” is a major box-office success, and its most important prop is the Tablet of Ahkmenrah. When the Tablet’s dials are set to the proper combination, the exhibits in the museum come to life. Andy Freeman, an independent prop designer and builder based in London, England used Delcam’s ArtCAM to convert the studio designer’s conception into a mathematically precise, functional and manufacturable design. He also used both ArtCAM and PowerMill to generate the computer numerical control (CNC) programs used to machine the tablet, and used ArtCAM’s reverse and mirroring tools to design the mold used to build a lightweight version of the tablet that is carried by Dexter the Capuchin Monkey in the movie.

Freeman, an experienced set and prop designer, has delivered high-quality props and for movies such as I, Robot, X-Men II, X-Men III, The Core, Paycheck, Blade Trinity, Chronicles of Riddick and others. The project started when Freeman was given the plaster tablets that had caused problems in the original...read more