Spring Clean Challenge: Developing WWII infantry for 3D printing
Print Test I
My own 3D printer is due to arrive later this month but in the meantime I managed to run a test print on the printer we have at work (it’s also much better than the one I’ll be getting so a bonus really)!
I positioned my commando on his back with the SMG facing directly away from the build plate. This was in the hope that I could avoid the need for any support structure around the front of the miniature and especially the barrel of his gun. I reasoned the gun would be quite fragile and cutting away a support would likely result in snapping the barrel.
I left the print running over night and although it printed successfully the model was destroyed while being removed from the plate! The plastic used in SLA printing remains in a slightly jellyfied state until it’s cured under a solar lamp post printing. Unfortunately such a small component wasn’t strong enough to be removed from the print head successfully.
Lesson learned. This time I would print the model on a block to give it a little more integrity while it was being processed. I also decided I may as well print some size comparisons so I scaled a couple of duplicates up to 8mm and 10mm respectively.
Once again I arranged the component with its back to the build plate. This would mean the figures would be printed facing downwards, from back to front, as the build plate was raised from the resin bath below.
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