Cupcake Alexander the Great

thingiverse

Cosmo Wenman's portrait of Alexander the Great was sliced into smaller pieces using MakerBot Cupcake for a unique project. Despite the seemingly crazy idea, the creator was determined due to being underemployed and having only their MakerBot Cupcake MK4 with Heat Bed Plus as their resource. Two sets of files were made available: one for standard-sized Cupcakes (39 parts, untested) and another for tall Cupcakes like the creator's (27 parts). Zydac's Z-axis upgrade was recommended to be easily installed at http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4716. The creator expressed gratitude towards Cosmo Wenman for creating this 3D scan, which inspired them to think bigger after completing large, multi-part prints like the Thundercats sword and bathtub U-boat. The sliced STL files were further split using Netfabb Studio, arranged in RepG for best print orientation, and resaved as binary STLs. Gcode files containing instructions for each set of STL files were also provided. The creator also shared a Skeinforge 35 profile for the project and a spreadsheet that sorted parts by group and listed each one's printing time with two worksheets for tall and stock Cupcakes, respectively. A series of assembly photos were also included in a separate download. During the printing process, parts should be printed in groups according to the spreadsheet and placed together in labelled containers. For cleaning, rafts and support material should be carefully removed from each part, while stringy bits could be plucked or shaved off using a craft knife. Stubborn raft bits and areas requiring touchups were addressed with sandpaper. Assembly involved working with groups of parts according to the spreadsheet, bonding them together with Gorilla Super Glue or preferred adhesive, and filling gaps with scrap plastic if needed. Aves Apoxie Sculpt modelling compound was used for correcting join flaws, warping, filling in surface areas, and coating outward-facing surfaces. The creator suggested using their own techniques for painting after applying one coat of acrylic paint shortly after the modelling compound. Links to Gorilla Super Glue, Aves Apoxie Sculpt Super White, and Aboveground Value Series bronze acrylic paint #54425 were also provided.