Exclusive: Axolotl Redux!

***THIS FILE IS NO LONGER INCLUDED FREE WITH SUBSCRIPTION.
It can be purchased once re-released according to this Schedule.

Hi everyone!

This month is the one year anniversary of my start on this 3D design adventure!  To mark the occasion, this month's models follow the theme of my very first design, the Axolotl! Starting with this new Patreon Exclusive, Axolotl Redux!

This axolotl features a cute new exclusive face sculpt and fun articulated gills!  The design of the head and gills allows it to print directly on the bed, without the large pre-support (it just has a small one now for the ball joint).  I also went through the body and improved it in several areas that should increase ease-of-printability, surface quality, and strength (details below*).  The Bonus Fridge Magnets are posted as well, and also feature the articulated gills.

This month's upcoming public release is also following the Axolotl theme!  Without giving anything away, I thought it would be really fun to do a more elaborately customized Axolotl as an "Anniversary Edition" of sorts.  I'm really excited about how it's coming together, and cant wait to share it!  Stay tuned for that release very soon!

Cheers!
Matt

*Updates to the Body: The tail has been revised with wider bottoms for more solid bed contact, and an entirely redesigned pre-support for more stability.  All the limb joints have been strengthened.  The bed contact surfaces have been adjusted to have slightly larger areas of adhesion.  Overhangs have been updated to get cleaner surfaces on the undersides of the body, and the neck socket has been replaced with the newer version for easier head attachment. These body updates will be rolled out to the other Axo variants as well.

Pictured model printed in...
Polymaker Matte Rainbow***
Magnet printed in...
Polymaker Teal/Yellow Dual extrusion***

*Click Here to go to the Pinned "the Hub - Info and Current Download Links" post*

3D PRINTING SETTINGS - Axolotl Redux

• Head: Snap-Fit to Body.  Pre-Supported for easy printing.  No additional support needed.

• Body_preSupportAndBrim (recommended): Print-In-Place.  Pre-Supported for easy printing.  No additional support needed.

• Body_customBrims: includes custom brims, but no tail presupport.

• Body_NoBrimsOrSupports: Just the body, generate print aids if needed and how you see fit.

• 10-15% Infill.

• 3 Walls.

Due to the very small joints in the gills, this axolotl may be more limited in how small it will print successfully. It has been test printed as low as 70-75% with full articulation. YMMV

3D PRINTING SETTINGS - Magnets

- 0.16mm layer height
- 3 walls with a 0.4mm nozzle (could do 2 walls with a larger nozzle.)
- 10% Lightning infill (lightning infill is great for these because it keeps the weight down and only creates infill where needed. Keeping the weight down helps the magnets be more effective.)
- 5-6 bottom layers (gives a little extra strength to the magnet attachment area.)
- If your printer struggles with bridging, you may need to add support inside the magnet slot.  Give it a try without and see how it goes.

*While it may be possible to safely drop the magnets in without pausing the print, if you are using a faster printer or printing many magnets at once... it would be best to add a pause to your print.  I suggest pausing close to the layer where the magnet slot is nearly done, but not covered.  This is fairly easy to do in most cases, but be aware that some printers do not support this option via gcode, and must be paused manually.  Please research your printer and slicer if you are unsure how to do this.  To add a pause to prints in Cura, follow this Guide.  To add a pause to prints in Bambu Studio and Prusa Slicer, follow this Guide.

*NOTE, be cautious when using steel nozzles, the magnets may want to grab hold of them.  I did not find this to be a problem when using a magnetic bed surface in tandem with the steel nozzle.

*Click Here to go to the Pinned "the Hub - Info and Current Download Links" post*

***As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.