[DaveMakesStuff] demonstrates an amazing approach for 3D printing a sphere; a difficult form for filament-based printers to deal with. As a bonus, it makes use of a minimal of filament. His concepts may be utilized to your individual designs, however his Big Spiralized Sphere would additionally simply occur to make a tremendous decoration this vacation season.
The trick is principally to print the sphere in two elements, however somewhat than simply break up the sphere proper down the center, [Dave] makes two hole C-shaped sections, like a tennis ball. This construction permits the halves to be printed in vase mode, which minimizes filament use whereas additionally printing support-free.
Vase (or spiral) mode prints an object utilizing a single, unbroken line of extruded filament. The ensuing object has just one wall and 0 infill, but it surely’s nonetheless a lot sturdy for an decoration. Regardless of its measurement, [Dave]’s large ball makes use of solely 220 grams of filament.
A video (additionally embedded beneath) reveals the design in higher element. In case you’d wish to experiment, we’ve beforehand lined how PETG’s transparency is greatest preserved when 3D printing through the use of vase mode, barely overextruding, and printing at the next temperature to make sure stable bonding between every layer.