My personal Katana - Maker style

thingiverse

One year ago, I printed and showcased in our lab in Milan one katana, utilizing a single-piece 3D model designed by Gungn1r on Thingiverse: www.thingiverse.com/thing:351917. I divided his model into parts, then assembled them, which was a time-consuming task but resulted in an aesthetically pleasing outcome. You can view some photos of the project on our website at www.italymaker.com. What didn't sit well with me was that the printed katana was excessively fragile, making it nearly impossible to play with or handle for entertainment purposes. The polymers used are significantly different from metal, and the weight and feel weren't ideal. Recently, I decided to design my own katana, incorporating a 6 mm threaded rod from bottom to top to enhance its robustness and stiffness, thereby creating a genuine "maker-style" katana specifically tailored for 3D printing. Concurrently, I had fun designing a novel blade concept that honors traditional shapes while introducing a "maker-inspired" look through strategically placed holes that showcase the internal rod. I personally designed the Kashira and Tsuba components, as well as created a realistic samegawa. The cherry blossom theme is the central focus of my work, evident in the Hamon, Kashira, and Tsuba. Afterward, I printed all the parts using a new, extremely durable ABS material, then assembled them with acetone glue. All you need to complete this project is the 6 mm rod and... plenty of patience! If you're interested in having it printed for you, simply ask and I'll be happy to accommodate your request.