houseboat "Philemon II"

thingiverse

Summer vacation 2014 found me strolling along Berlin's waters, Germany's capital city, with a desire to spend some quality time away from home. I was fascinated by numerous speedboats and houseboats that dotted the shoreline. The sight of these vessels sparked an idea within me - I wanted one for myself someday. Fast forward to June 20th, 2015, when I embarked on a journey to explore the world of 3D printing and modeling. My internet search led me to the Thingiverse website, where I discovered the S.T.E.A.M. Challenges. After a brief deliberation, I chose the #MakeItFloat Challenge, exclaiming, "I can build a houseboat!" Five afternoons of hard work followed, during which I crafted a model of a houseboat using Autodesk Inventor Professional 2014 Student Version. However, my creation remained incomplete due to the absence of a 3D printer. Undeterred, I scoured the internet for alternatives and stumbled upon 3D Hubs or Makerspaces. One such hub caught my attention - the Makerspace in the Saxon State Library and University Library Dresden. The next day, I visited this facility and was informed that they would print my model but it would take some time. Three weeks of anticipation ensued as I waited anxiously to see if all details were printable. Finally, the print job was completed, but with one week left before uploading the model, I knew there wasn't enough time for a second print. I made some changes and uploaded the STL file version 1.1 of my houseboat design. My creation is a single-piece print, meticulously decorated with intricate details. To ensure that all features are printed clearly, I recommend choosing the smallest layer height possible (at least 0.1mm) when printing this model. I have also shared a short film showcasing my design process. Please check the link below to watch it. http://youtu.be/KG7uafrgox0 Note: The STL file version 1.0 of my model can be seen in the film and featured picture, as there wasn't enough time to print version 1.1. For more information on the reasons behind this, please refer to the description.