This is a quick announcement that I made some new 3D models, which I'm offering to the community free to print. It's a collection of medallions that would make great window hangings or large Christmas ornaments - so I'm getting them out there in time to prepare for Christmas, or whatever winter holidays you celebrate. I have them available on Cults 3D and Thingiverse:
https://cults3d.com/en/design-collections/WriterOfMinds/tricolor-medallions
https://www.thingiverse.com/writerofminds/collections/42747021/things
Try printing them in translucent filament with an interesting infill pattern and hanging them in front of a light source. They all come with the hanging loop - I might upload versions without it later, so let me know if there's interest.
Each medallion has three surface levels for a 3D effect, and is designed to be printed in three colors of your choice. If you don't have a multicolor printer, you can still get this result without too much fuss by inserting pauses in the GCODE and changing filaments manually. Here's an instruction video that explains how to do it in several popular slicers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awJvnlOSqF8&t=28s
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| Solar Fox color variations. |
It took some further work to do it on my Anycubic Vyper, which doesn't properly support the M600 color change command that the slicers insert automatically. While the Vyper will stop printing and move its head away from the print for a filament change, the LCD screen doesn't update with a "resume" button ... so you have to reboot the printer, which cancels your print. I learned how to control the Vyper with Octoprint, a tool originally designed for remote control of a printer you keep in your garage or something. The advantage for our present application is that Octoprint takes over the process of sending G-code to the printer, and gives you pause and resume buttons that make up for the shortcomings of the Vyper's internal firmware. I did a find-and-replace in my G-code files and replaced all the M600s inserted by the Prusa slicer with Octoprint "pause" commands. Some custom "before and after pause" G-code was also necessary in Octoprint to get the print head away from the print and move it back, so it wouldn't drool filament on the medallion during the swap process.
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| The 3D model for the Solar Fox medallion, displayed in DesignSpark Mechanical with suggested coloration. |
Some of these designs, in particular the bird and the neurons, have delicate parts that may have a hard time adhering to your print bed. Print the first layers slowly and adjust your bed heat and cooling as needed.
Have fun! I look forward to seeing some other people make these.
Until the next cycle,
Jenny
