3D printing a vase is becoming increasingly popular for many households. This is because shapes can be made that are not feasible with regular materials or become very expensive. Today we look at 3D printing a vase for your home and give some tips so that it can be used with actual water in it. Read on quick!
What is a 'vase mode' in your slicer and how does it work?
To prepare a 3D print you generally need a slicer, which translates the 3D file into a code for your 3D printer to understand the movements and the amount of material it has to lay down. Within such a slicer there are many options to improve or adjust your print, including the 'vase mode'. When selecting the 'vase mode' the slicer will make the solid model completely hollow and draw only one outer line, which follows the shape of the 3D model. Below you can see a visual expansion of this, where on the left you can see the solid model and on the right the hollowed out model, which will eventually become the vase. The slicer only makes the bottom and one side wall, the top will be left open.
What is the advantage of the 'vase mode' 3D print?
Using the vase mode on the 3D printer you can create visually beautiful items without putting in much effort. Less preparation is also required in the preliminary phase, because you can simply draw the 3D model solid and the slicer does the other work in terms of hollowing out and choosing thicknesses. The vase mode can also highlight certain properties of the 3D printer filament. If you have a filament that is semi-translucent, this can be shown perfectly with a vase mode. In summary, the advantages of a vase mode 3D print are the following:
- Functional, the vase can serve as intended
- Visually impressive, features are well highlighted
- Little preparation required, just choose the right settings
- Can be used with almost all 3D printer filaments and in almost all slicers
- Layers are well hidden, making it appear as if it is one solid object
Can a 3D printed vase also be waterproof?
Yes, a 3D printed vase can certainly be made waterproof. To achieve this, a number of things must be taken into account, including the layer height and thickness and the chosen material. If these are sufficient, perfect water can be used.
4 tips for the most success
But what are the essential settings that you should pay attention to? That is a question we get often. There are 4 settings that should not be forgotten, all of which we will discuss.
1. Choose the right 3D printer slicer for the best results
Nowadays, most 3D printer slicers can handle a vase mode print perfectly. However, it is important to choose a slicer that allows you to adjust both the layer height and the layer thickness. If this is not possible, the walls may become too thin, causing water to leak and the effect of a functional vase to be no longer feasible. Our advice for reliable vase mode 3D printer slicers:
- PrusaSlicer
- Simplify3D
- Cura
- ideaMaker
2. Choose the right material for the vase
To be sure that the vase that is currently 3D printed will still exist in 5 years, it is not recommended to 3D print it in PLA. Filamentz's advice would be tochoose at least PETG as it can withstand external influences better and generally lasts a long time, has a good layer bond and is slightly stronger than PLA filament. For a somewhat shorter term, PLA is a perfect choice . For best results, Silk PLA filament may be excellent as it can hide the printed layers well.
3. Set your wall thickness and the thickness of the bottom correctly
Perhaps the most important advice for making a successful vase is the settings for the layer thickness and layer height. When using a 'standard' 0.4 mm 3D printer nozzle, our advice is to print perimeters with a 1 mm wide line. Don't be afraid, 3D printers can create wide lines with relatively narrow nozzles without much effort. Furthermore, it is advisable to 3D print at least 5 solid underlayers to ensure that the bottom is tight and does not allow water to pass through. For the first layer it is not necessary to lay down such broad lines as the walls. Furthermore, to avoid as many openings as possible, it is useful to choose a relatively large layer height and maximize the speed at 50 mm/s. To guarantee strength, the cooling fan can be set to 0%. In brief:
-
Perimeter width: 1 mm, with a 0.4 mm 3D printer nozzle
- Number of solid base layers: 5
- Layer height: 0.3 mm
- Speed: maximum 50 mm/s
- Cooling fan: off, depending on the level of detail on the vase
4. Choose the correct layer height
It is often thought that it is necessary to choose a small layer height when 3D printing a vase. This may be the case, but for reliability it is better to choose a larger layer height. This ensures fewer divisions in the vase, which also reduces the chance of leakage. If there are many details on the vase and also some overhang, this can be taken into account. When using a 0.4 mm 3D printer nozzle, we recommend choosing a layer height between 0.2 – 0.3 mm to improve strength, reduce the number of divisions and have the greatest chance of a waterproof result.