Helix Ring with Seven Balls

I learned some new tools in ZBrush and this thing is the result. I ended up using masking, panel loops and radial symmetry to create this design. Part of me thinks it's too uniform and not organic enough, but the other part likes the symmetry and clean lines. So if you feel you are stuck in your designs, I might suggest going "back to school" and learn some new aspect of your design program and then see what happens.

If anyone is interested in the details of this design, let me know. I actually kept some notes as I went. But I used ZBrush so there is no guarantee that the techniques will translate to any other 3D program.

UPDATE: When I went to print this with MakerWare v2.3.2.37 I found problems with the topology. I fixed this in ZBrush and have uploaded a corrected file called helix_ring_MW. This prints fine now in MakerWare and should print fine using ReplicatorG although I haven't tried that yet.