Two Years and Two Machines

In 2024 we used our then Snapmaker machines to produce a range of prints that were the spiral design that was popular at the time.  At the time a range of them had started appearing as part of some of the popular online sites where there were being sold to our students.  A number of students brought these into school and the classroom and we  then in turn located the .html code for these designs and printed our own version.

At the time we noted that the designs were quite robust and required to have some finishing on them, where we removed the 'rafting' or the excess waste PLA that was located in the groves or inside the prints.   Recently we again repeated this process with the change being it is now two years later and instead of using the Snapmaker we have used the Bambu H2D.

As shown left, the photograph has been taken from a design that we located from the Bamub Printer Labs online portal.   This design features a group of four complete designs - the four bases and the four inserts.   

Of note when comparing the two designs on the new version, shown left, there is no waste plastic/rafting which is contained within the groves of the design the designs are complete as shown and printed without the need for any removal.

Each spiral and insert used took thirty eight minutes to complete and used 40g of PLA this had a price point to produce one of the spirals of $0.45c.

This was relevant when considered producing this in large numbers for some kind of school event or fundraiser etc.   There is obvious potential to print with some colour variation or match up.