I’ve never been into printing Pokémon or shelf figures, but the countless knitted models online always caught my eye. Decided to sit down in Fusion and design a functional phone stand using that texture.
Now that I figured out the texture, what functional print should I try to "knit" next?
Instead of fighting with support blockers, painting settings, and praying the slicer doesn't ruin the surface quality, I’ve started modeling custom supports directly into my CAD files for complex designs. To be honest, I just got sick of fighting with the support generation in Bambu Studio.
I recently designed a knitted phone stand, and for the cable opening and charging plug cutout I needed support in very specific locations. Rather than fighting with support blockers, painting supports, and endless test prints, I simply modeled the supports directly into the design.
The result was cleaner surfaces, easier removal, and complete control over where support was actually needed.
I model the bottom and top layers as separate bodies matching my exact layer height. This allows me to easily assign a different interface material (PLA and PETG in my case).
I know this method isn't brand new, but I really wanted to share my experience with it. It takes an extra 10 minutes in CAD, but it saves hours of post-processing and failed test prints.
Have you ever tried modeling your own supports from scratch? Or do you always get by just fine with the slicer?
My entry for the Moku System Design Contest on MakerWorld is officially live! I have designed two functional expansions for this modular desk system: the parametric and stackable Moku Tri Box, and a perfectly fitted Moku Phone Holder. If you like these designs and think they would look great on your desk, I would be incredibly grateful for your support in the contest!!
I recently created a parametric U-shaped vase model and have already created a print profile for it that includes four different variations in a single profile. The idea is that users can simply select the version they like best and then print it.
Now I’m wondering what makes more sense for the community when publishing: a print profile that includes all four variants, or several separate print files, one for each variant.
Which version would you choose as a user?
And from a publishing perspective: Which approach do you think get more points?
I’d really appreciate your honest opinion.
Since the round version (https://makerworld.com/models/1623838) was well received, I have now developed this square successor. The generator allows for free adjustment of height, width, and wall thickness to create a perfect match for your existing planters.
If you could use something like this, you can find the files here:
I just finished the Tri Box and intentionally designed it to be fully parametric.
It was important to me to create a model that not only looks good, but can also be adjusted cleanly and easily.
I’m also entering it into MakerWorld’s current competition, and I’d really appreciate the support of the 3D printing community.
If you’d like, feel free to check it out:
