This update is a bit different from the previous technical ones. Most of the recent work on the CORE One Mini wasn’t about the mechanical side - it was about identity. At some point during a project like this, you realize that if you want the machine to feel like a real “product” and not just a pile of modified parts sharing the visual language of a bigger brother, it needs its own identity.
And that meant one thing: the CORE One Mini needed a proper, polished logo. So after a lot of experimenting, feedback, and redesigns, the project officially has a new logo from now on.
Ironically, the whole process started exactly how you would expect in 2026: by asking AI to design it.
I generated a few concepts, styles and variations. Some looked interesting for a few seconds, but most of them had the same problem - they either looked way too generic or simply didn’t match the machine at all. AI was surprisingly bad at creating something that really just needed variations of an existing visual language.
I soon reached the point where I started building everything manually, adjusting proportions, typography, and shapes until the logo ideas started to feel right. Thx to the official Prusa Brand Manual, the job was done quick - but the decision about the final logo was not.
The previous Reddit post about the logo experiments from last week ended up being incredibly helpful here, so honestly: thank you to everyone who commented, criticized, voted, or suggested changes. Some of the feedback directly influenced the final direction, especially regarding readability, simplicity, and making the design fit the Prusa-inspired aesthetic instead of fighting against it.
Once the logo itself was finalized, I moved on to testing how it would actually work physically on the machine - and most importantly: could I even make those logos work with the space constraints and tools I had available?
That opened an entirely new rabbit hole: I started experimenting with different vinyl films and color combinations to see what worked best with the enclosure panels and acrylic parts. The initial orange film I had on hand was way too dark, while another one I got was almost semi-transparent and looked strange. So I started experimenting with layering and using white as a backing layer. Some combinations looked great in photos but terrible in person.
The final solution ended up being a double-layer setup with white as a backer and orange on top. For the "orange only" sections, I layered two orange sheets on top of each other to achieve the correct opacity and color depth.
The actual plotting process worked much better than expected, though weeding the tiny details definitely did not at first.
Small text and miniature cut details are absolutely brutal to handle cleanly at this scale. Some of the lettering is pretty much at the practical limit of what can realistically be weeded without losing parts of the design. There were multiple failed attempts and a lot of patience involved before getting usable results.
Especially cutting and handling double-layered film is a bit tricky - but in the end it worked out surprisingly well.
On the toolhead logo, I even had to go three layers thick because the tiny "MINI" text on the right side was simply too small to make work reliably. Adding a third layer using an ultra-thin black film suddenly made everything look incredibly crisp.
I also printed multiple copies of everything to have spares in case something went wrong during application.
Since the logos consist of multiple parts and colors, they needed to be aligned precisely. That’s why I added square alignment markers into the design and merged everything together using transfer film beforehand.
Honestly, it felt incredibly satisfying holding those finished "stickers" in my hands for the first time - and of course, I made spares just in case I messed up the application - plotting a few extra pieces before was a great idea.
Finally, I installed the logos onto the machine itself, aligned everything with the grid of the transfer paper, and pressed it down carefully using a silicone roller.
Seeing those logos applied for the first time completely changed the feeling of the project. Until now, the CORE One Mini often still felt like a prototype or an ongoing experiment, but with this first real “final touch,” it suddenly feels a little bit more like a finished product.
And honestly - when comparing the logos to those on the original CORE One, I’d even say mine look cleaner and crisper than the originals. I'm aware that in mass production a vinyl film application would be too expensive and time consuming, but man it just looks so much better.
And for the first time, it truly feels like the CORE One Mini now has its own identity.
At the same time, I also worked on improving the appearance of the front door. I decided to wrap the edge of the door panel in order to visually cover the handle strip area (just like on the original CORE One) and create a cleaner front surface.
By pure coincidence, I found an offcut vinyl film in my scrap bin that happened to be almost the exact color I needed. It sounds like a tiny change - but perfectionism definitely kicked in here, and it completely changes how integrated the door looks.
There is still a huge amount of work ahead - especially another full disassembly and preparation for painting - but visually the project is finally starting to become cohesive.
A quick note of appreciation to everyone who has been following along and sharing feedback. The comments, ideas, and support really shape the direction of this project more than you might think. CORE One Mini wouldn’t progress the way it does without that input from the community - so thank you for being part of it.
If you want to learn more about the project, make sure to checkout the main post "CORE One Mini - The Rocky Road to a Prototype." for the complete background and FAQ.
If you intend to buy a Prusa machine, you can use the referral code "@suit" at checkout in the Prusa online shop. This will give you some Prusameter points and 1 kg of free filament and i'll get some points aswell (which I can use for some free filament). Or you can just download, like and make some of my models here on Printables and even consider to become a member in my Printables club.
I've also set up a GoFundMe campaign to tackle the costs. Thanks to everybody who has donated a few euros already - that means a lot and helps me cover the expenses.
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