Exploiting limitations
Pine Tree by tc_fea
Even with some amazing developments in DIY 3D printing, there are still some limitations. Some have managed to print in two colors at the same time or with a secondary material for support purposes. MakerBot even launched a water soluable filament that may help with this even more.
However, tc_fea’s experiment in extreme overhangs literally turns the problem of support material for overhangs on it’s head. By designing a model with ridiculously unsupported overhangs he was able to design a printable pine tree – that incorporates the way in which a filament will droop when it is unsupported! The finished product is pretty amazing.
What other DIY 3D printing limitations can be exploited? How about the striated nature of a printed model?
| Tagged with | 3d printing, diy, diy 3d printing, exploitation, limitation, pine tree, tc_fea | One comment |
One Comment so far
whosawhatsis
The exploitation of limitations wasn’t as explicit (or intentional, at least for the first attempt), but I used a similar technique to create mid-air support structures when I printed Cthulha. http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5982
First attempt gave me the idea (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7820200@N05/5411310896/), then I tweaked skeinforge to get it to lay down the right amount of material to make the drooping material build up enough to support the hanging tentacles.