My personal Katana - Maker style

cults3d

One year ago, I created a custom Katana in our Lab in Milan using a one-piece 3D model designed by Gungn1r from Thingiverse: www.thingiverse.com/thing:351917. I broke down his model into parts and then reassembled them, which was a time-consuming process but the result was visually stunning. You can view some images on our website at www.italymaker.com. What didn't sit well with me was that the printed Katana was extremely fragile, making it impossible to handle or play with for fun. The polymers used in 3D printing are vastly different from metals, and the weight and feel just weren't up to par. Recently, I decided to design my own Katana, incorporating a 6 mm threaded rod running from the bottom to top to increase its robustness and stiffness, giving it a genuine "Maker Style" look. At the same time, I had fun conceptualizing a new blade design that respected traditional shapes while introducing a distinctive "Maker aesthetic" with visible holes showing the rod inside. I personally created the Kashira and Tsuba designs and added realistic samegawa details. As you can see, my work's central theme is cherry blossoms, which are featured in the Hamon, Kashira, and Tsuba. Next, I printed all the parts using a new, exceptionally strong ABS material and assembled them with acetone glue. The only additional requirement is the 6 mm rod, along with plenty of patience! If you need assistance, feel free to ask and I'll be happy to print it for you.