Multicursal Longing (Tealight holder)

prusaprinters

<p><i>Do algorithms weep for having lost a sheep count?</i></p><p>The teardrop speaks to the sentimental programmer who remembers growing up with a Commodore.</p><p>This pattern is produced by the 10 PRINT algorithm, a one-line program originally written in BASIC for the Commodore 64:</p><pre><code class="language-plaintext">10 PRINT CHR$ (205.5 + RND (1)); : GOTO 10</code></pre><p>The program prints an infinite sequence of “/” and “\” characters, randomly selecting between the two at each step. Such random selection produces maze-like patterns.</p><p>Here, we first generate the pattern on the surface of a droplet, and then subdivide the pattern to add some rounded corners.</p><p>More information on the algorithm:</p><p><a href="https://10print.org/">10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10</a></p><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220115041457/https://10print.org/">10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10 (archive.org)</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Instructions</strong></p><p>Prints at 0.15 mm layer height and requires a brim. Use a white filament and your lithophane settings. For the base use a quality 0.2 mm profile and place the seam at the back.</p><p>The model pictured is printed in lightweight PLA - try it for a matte, textured surface without any visible layers or seams; with the right settings it almost looks like an SLS nylon print.</p><p>Settings for regular filaments:</p><ul><li>Layer height: 0.15 mm</li><li>Walls / Perimeters: 4 (depending on your line width, you want walls / perimeters throughout)</li><li>Infill: 0 %</li><li>Gap fill: off</li><li>Top layers: 1</li></ul><p>Modifications for lightweight PLA:</p><ul><li>Printing temperature: 240 C</li><li>Print speed: 40 mm/s - applies *everywhere*: external/internal perimeters, infill, first layer</li><li>Flow: 50%</li><li>Fan speed: 50%</li></ul><p>The combination of printing temperature, speed, and flow will depend on your printer; you want a temperature where the filament expands enough to produce the desired texture and a flow that will produce a dimensionally accurate print. For the Prusa i3 MK3s used in this print, 40 mm/s works well for outer walls and 240 C resulted in maximum filament expansion. Start with these two parameters and experiment with the flow.</p><p>Two project files are provided that you can adapt to your printer and filament, one for regular PLA, and one for lightweight PLA.</p>