D12 Terrarium

myminifactory

A sleek and sophisticated dodecahedron shaped terrarium, available in 5 sizes, comes with or without a built-in drain. This part can be challenging to print due to its long overhanging features. To print this part successfully, there are several standard options: Use standard supports (either manually or automatically generated): although it works, the end result is often disappointing, leaving a part full of unsightly marks that may not make for attractive decor. In dual extrusion machines, use PLA and PVA: while it's effective, PVA can be expensive and unpredictable. The resulting part will likely feature tiny holes due to PVA stringing and oozing. For this specific print job, I prefer a third approach: Use PLA as the primary material with ABS serving as the support material. ABS and PLA exhibit intriguing adhesive properties. By carefully controlling the ABS temperature, you can achieve anywhere from minimal adhesion (around 220C) to nearly permanent bonding (around 240C). This allows for printing any type of support over PLA, which can then be easily removed without leaving a trace. The ABS performs remarkably well and doesn't contaminate the PLA. In my time-lapse video, I printed using black PLA with white ABS as the support material: https://youtu.be/LERzgaUVqbI