Lithophane Supports- Free Download for Perfect 3-D Prints Everytime!

Lithophanes can be amazing... if they print correctly. But their upright orientation poses challenges to a successful print. In this video we address the difficulty of printing these slender designs upright with no support by building a custom support that will stabilize your lithophanes. We provide the file for you, free of charge, and walk you through using them to set up your next successful print!
Lithophane Support Bar .stl file:
bit.ly/3OLKozf
In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricate process of printing 3D lithophanes with an emphasis on maximizing detail and ensuring structural integrity throughout the printing process. Lithophanes, revered for their captivating visual depth and detail, require a meticulous approach to 3D printing, particularly when it comes to their orientation and support structures. This summary not only outlines the challenges faced when printing lithophanes but also introduces an innovative solution to overcome these obstacles, ensuring every lithophane emerges straight, clean, and consistent.
The Challenge of Printing 3D Lithophanes
The primary challenge in 3D printing lithophanes lies in their delicate balance between detail and structural stability. Printing lithophanes upright is recommended to preserve as much detail as possible-a crucial aspect that defines their allure. However, this method introduces an architectural dilemma: thin, tall structures struggle to support themselves, leading to potential bending or even complete printing failures.
Architectural Solutions and Support Mechanisms
To combat this issue, the use of support structures such as brims, skirts, and rafts is explored. Each support mechanism offers different levels of bed adhesion and ease of removal, with brims identified as particularly effective for lithophane printing. The guide further introduces a custom support solution, designed to provide optimal stability without compromising the lithophane's surface quality.
Step-by-Step Guide to Printing with Custom Supports
A detailed walkthrough covers the creation of a custom support structure using Rhino software, followed by the preparation and adjustment of lithophane files in Ultimaker Cura. This process involves strategically rotating and positioning both the lithophanes and the custom supports to ensure maximum stability with minimal contact, facilitating easy post-print removal.
Results and Conclusion
The guide concludes with a showcase of the printing results, highlighting the effectiveness of the custom supports in maintaining the lithophanes' integrity and detail. The barely-there contact points between the supports and lithophanes underscore the method's success, offering a solution that combines aesthetic excellence with practical efficiency.
This guide serves as a valuable resource for artists, educators, DIY enthusiasts, and craftspeople interested in the art of 3D lithophane printing. By addressing common challenges and providing a detailed solution, it empowers individuals to achieve optimal results, merging technical precision with artistic creativity.

[@dave882]

You don’t need to scale those or even make a special box. Just use a test cube and turn OFF the uniform scale. Then type in the dimensions you want the cube to be.

[@jorge2004]

Thanks I'll have to give it a try.😊

[@mogsta]

I only just entered the world of 3D Printing last week! This is mind boggling... and you've just introduced me to Lithophanes! I'd love to know more and where to find them etc (and even how to make them if possible?

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

Yes! We have a whole video on that! th-cam.com/video/WtyEj0633IY/w-d-xo.html

[@roxasparks]

Bruh... let me tell joo somthing... let me tell joo something... i been printing for 6 yrs... the amount of shit that can be done on top if the fact im just finding this video... my head keeps getting blown!!

[@falib]

Can print flat but need to reduce the line width

[@weirdnewworld1736]

Great idea! How long does it take you to print four of those at once? I was watching for the time but it cut before it was finished slicing

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

Thanks! I've printed between 4 and 8 at a time. 4 take about 36 hrs, 8 about 70. I'm sure that fluctuates by machine

[@weirdnewworld1736]

@@PaintParty-dn5ck Nice!! I'm afraid to go north of the 12 hour mark most days haha

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

@@weirdnewworld1736 I hear you! trial and error

[@Ellieshmana]

link for the support stl is not working

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

Thanks for letting me know, I'll check it asap

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

Just changed the link, double checked it on two friend's accounts. Should be working for you. Please let me know if you experience any more problems. Thanks!

[@Ellieshmana]

@@PaintParty-dn5ck working now thank you!

[@joshswanson8819]

You don’t need the support stl, in the slicer you can create a box and just scale it to the size you want. No need for cad software to achieve this. By the look and sound on each of those when pulling off one side wasn’t even touching the prints.

[@PaintParty-dn5ck]

@@joshswanson8819Thanks. This video just offers one solution, there will always be others. Even if you don't use the stl file provided, I still think some of the tips here will be helpful. And yes, there was one connection point that I'd already cracked off before filming.