Nameflakes - Your very own custom snowflake!

thingiverse

This is an OpenSCAD script crafted alongside my daughter (aka Burrito Sunshine) to discover programming in a playful manner ahead of Winter 2019. The script captures distinct letters from a provided string, then prints them at a 45-degree angle with a mirrored reflection. Each letter is positioned progressively farther away from the central hexagon and increases in size accordingly. The arms are duplicated six times, spaced 60 degrees apart. Since the snowflake maintains a fixed dimension, longer strings result in closer letter placement, creating a visually appealing overlap. Avoid utilizing lowercase letters like 'i' or 'j,' as they produce a dot that is unlikely to be connected to the flake. Experiment with printing names in reverse or substituting uppercase letters for their lowercase counterparts. Occasionally, some letters may not connect properly; however, we're actively working on resolving this issue. In the meantime, feel free to experiment with letter arrangements and orders. These were printed using Clear PETG, resulting in a beautiful scattering of light. Two example .stl files utilizing the strings 'Santa' and 'atnaS' are provided for your reference. Have fun exploring!