RS3: Research ship

thingiverse

A versatile model of a universal research ship for various additive manufacturing technologies. The vessel is capable of floating on water, but if constructed from PLA filament and filled with water, it will indeed sink to the bottom. A consistent draft can be expected, and users can easily adjust for this by loading cargo into the rear section. As a modular model, several individual parts may be assembled or detached to reveal interior details. Additionally, an enclosed indoor harbor for submarines is seamlessly integrated - no design error was involved in the STL file creation. This original design belongs entirely to me. Instructions: A successful print can be achieved using FDM technology despite some technical complexities involving bridges and slender walls. For optimal results, I strongly recommend printing the model at an enlarged scale to maintain its structural integrity. To my knowledge, scaling up to 132% size on a Prusa i3 printer with diagonal placement has proven effective. Keep in mind that maintaining identical proportions among all printed parts is essential. Aesthetically pleasing prints are more likely to result from lines oriented parallel to the ship's intended direction of travel. Experimenting with different filament colors for individual parts can also enhance realism. Alternatively, printing separate door components will enable users to seal gaps between internal chambers, creating a more polished model. A gallery image shows my personal model settings: scaling at 132%, layer height at 0.25mm, extrusion width of 0.6mm, with hull and cover elements printed in green PLA and red PLA respectively, topped with white PLA for added depth, while the funnel was successfully created using orange ABS.