【3D Printing News】Single print, no supports needed - a retractable sword in one second!
The Prusa i3 MK3S 3D printer is recognized by makers worldwide as a high-value machine, offering a reasonable price and excellent quality. This time, we're testing a new sample—a retractable sword. Who says single-extruder 3D printers can only print models? With proper design, minimal error, and good quality, you can also create functional structural parts! Our regular viewers might have already seen it at the recently concluded 3D Printing Exhibition this year. If you haven't, here's a look at it in action:
From handle to long sword in just one second! If you've ever used a retractable telescope as a child, you'll understand the concept of telescoping sections. When we put the 3D printing model of this sword into the Prusa Slicer software, you can see that its key secret lies in the handle. (Further reading: Free Resources, No Reservations! Here are 5 Major 3D Model Libraries!)
You can see that the concentric ring structure being 3D printed by the Prusa i3 MK3S is the main body of the telescoping sections. Through gradually varying diameters, they interlock, allowing each section to move freely without detaching due to the force of a swing.
We printed many colors and styles, and also tested several 1.75mm PLA filaments. The light blue rapier was made using BotFeeder Sky Blue. Unfortunately, it bravely "fell in battle" during a fierce "duel" among 3DMart colleagues, so I'll mourn its brief life for three seconds. I've included its beautiful "posthumous photo" to remind everyone that if you plan to use it for high-impact stress tests, you might need materials other than PLA or post-processing to avoid tragedy.
Besides blue, we also tried two other 1.75mm BotFeeder materials: Coke Red and Lemon Yellow. The results were also excellent, with even the subtle patterns at the bottom being printed completely. The curved parts of the rapier also printed smoothly, even without supports.
There's only about a 0.5mm gap between each sleeve, and the inner layers become progressively smaller, making it a challenge for 3D printers in terms of precision. The photos show some FDM 3D printing lines on the surface. While these don't affect functionality or overall appearance, industrial-grade Ultimaker printers would still achieve a more perfect finish. However, for a 3D printer priced under NT$50,000, the print quality of the Prusa i3 MK3 is very satisfying.
To fit into the studio for shooting, we adjusted the length of the sword, making one of them a short sword. Since each layer is printed directly on the build plate, no support structures are needed, and modifications are also simple, making this a very clever design.
Interested? You can now order the genuine, original imported Prusa i3 MK3S 3D printer! No assembly required, print immediately, and no worries about counterfeit parts or installation issues, allowing you to buy with confidence and print with peace of mind! Additionally, for makers or studios with molding needs, you can also choose the great value full package that includes a vacuum forming machine!
Click here for a free download, come and try it out!
Follow our fan page to stay updated：https://www.facebook.com/3dmart.com.tw/