#TreeDBenchy - Organic Display Stand

Organic display stand for the classic boat print. See description for framework to use with other models!
In the contest Organic Supports
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updated May 27, 2023

Description

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Want a good way to display your favorite Benchy? How about in a tree! This is a simple little stand to enclose your Benchy with some branchy bits.

Please note that while the “end points” of the branches should align with the Benchy hull, it's possible that the lower parts of the branches could interfere with the fit. My test prints weren't quite as stable as I hoped. I'm experimenting with a few ways to update my model and for better contact surfaces. In the meantime, you may be able to tweak the support settings for a better fit.

UPDATE 5/26/23: redesigned in Blender using geometry nodes, latest version (“BenchyTree-V4.3mf") has a much more secure fit. I have also attached the Blender file--this setup can be copied fairly easily to make an organic stand for any model you want. Brief overview of what I did:

  • In Blender: 
    • Place your model above the origin in whatever position you'd like
    • With geometry nodes, add randomized instances of a small object slightly above your model's surface (aligned to normals)
    • Use weight painting to put your instances along just the bottom edges, otherwise we'll have problems when slicing
    • Once your instances are where you expect, use the 3D print toolbox add-on to export two STLs
      • One of just the instances PLUS a small object near the origin (to preserve height)
      • One of just the model PLUS the same small object near the origin (used for support blocking in the proper orientation)
  • In Prusa Slicer:
    • Add your ‘instances’ STL
    • Add your ‘model’ STL, and ensure that the ‘reference’ object is aligned so that the model is in the proper spot
    • Paint the entire ‘model’ object with support blockers
    • If desired, add a primitive object to the print bed as a base
    • Slice your model with organic supports and observe the results
      • If supports are going through your model, either tweak support settings or go back to Blender and change your seed/heat map/etc to get your instances in a better spot
      • if no supports are going through your model, proceed to the next step
    • right click just the ‘model’ object and override the properties:
      • infill: 0%
      • perimeters: 0
      • top layers: 0
      • bottom layers: 0
    • Re-slice this arrangement, and you should now see just the support structure with negative space for your model

Note that even with the Blender weight paint tricks and support blockers, it still took a bit of fiddling to get a model sliced without supports running through it. I am new to Blender and to printing in general, so it's definitely possible that there's a much easier way to do this, but I was happy to find a solution that seemed to work for me.

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