Making print show on a 3D print?
I’m working on a small instrument and need some “printing” to be easily readable on a 3D printed surface. It’s easy to cut cut what I want into the surface, but it’s not easily readable. I thought of putting some white nail polish into the grooves. Anybody tried that? If so, is there a best way to shape the grooves for it?
A two color print doesn’t seem worth the effort, but I’ve never attempted it.
-Bob
On 5/18/2025 1:38 PM, Bob Carlson via Discuss wrote:
I’m working on a small instrument and need some “printing” to be easily readable on a 3D printed surface. It’s easy to cut cut what I want into the surface, but it’s not easily readable. I thought of putting some white nail polish into the grooves. Anybody tried that? If so, is there a best way to shape the grooves for it?
I've done Sharpie in a groove like that. It seemed to work OK. I don't
have enough experience to give solid advice, but make sure that the
groove is deep enough that the ink doesn't easily wear off.
A two color print doesn’t seem worth the effort, but I’ve never attempted it.
Depending on the design, a two-color print will produce the nicest
results. I've done some nice luggage tags that way, one color for the
base and a filament change for the second color with the letters cut
out. Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard. In fact, my
preference for these luggage tags is three-color, with cutouts on both
the top and bottom layers, and the middle showing through. They are TPU
for durability. (If anybody is interested let me know and I'll supply
the OpenSCAD program.)
1
I'm not exactly sure what you are asking for advice on, but my first question would be "Do you have a Dual Extruder, or do you just use filament change code in your slicer?" If you are using a Dual Extruder, then the result is (in my experience) rendering the tag (or whatever you are making) and the text (or whatever you are engraving) as separate STL(s), then use the text STL as a Cutting Mesh in your slicer. However, I suggest rotating both STL(s) 180° so that the text is face down, this will give you a much smoother surface on the side where the text is. However, this method is only useful when you only need text on 1 side & have a Dual Extruder. If you simply want to engrave the text & print text to insert (like a puzzle) I suggest (as strange as it sounds) printing it standing up so that the engraving is on the sides (this seems to give more clear-cut engravings). If you really need a flat top/bottom with the second filament/color already printed (using a Dual Extruder), you will need to figure out the best settings in your slicer (I am yet to find a way to make a smooth multi-color top surface with my Dual Extruder). I think the best thing to do all depends on how much you expect to be done by tweaking the settings vs how much you plan on doing post-print.
Nathan Sokalski
njsokalski@hotmail.commailto:njsokalski@hotmail.com
From: Jordan Brown via Discuss discuss@lists.openscad.org
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2025 5:28 PM
To: Bob Carlson via Discuss discuss@lists.openscad.org
Cc: Jordan Brown openscad@jordan.maileater.net
Subject: [OpenSCAD] Re: Making print show on a 3D print?
On 5/18/2025 1:38 PM, Bob Carlson via Discuss wrote:
I’m working on a small instrument and need some “printing” to be easily readable on a 3D printed surface. It’s easy to cut cut what I want into the surface, but it’s not easily readable. I thought of putting some white nail polish into the grooves. Anybody tried that? If so, is there a best way to shape the grooves for it?
I've done Sharpie in a groove like that. It seemed to work OK. I don't have enough experience to give solid advice, but make sure that the groove is deep enough that the ink doesn't easily wear off.
A two color print doesn’t seem worth the effort, but I’ve never attempted it.
Depending on the design, a two-color print will produce the nicest results. I've done some nice luggage tags that way, one color for the base and a filament change for the second color with the letters cut out. Once you get the hang of it, it's not hard. In fact, my preference for these luggage tags is three-color, with cutouts on both the top and bottom layers, and the middle showing through. They are TPU for durability. (If anybody is interested let me know and I'll supply the OpenSCAD program.)
I've done two color printing, but I have an IDEX printer. The other
printers I have either can't do that, or the feeders are too expensive
(or I don't need them) (creality K1MAX).
For non obvious labeling, I raise the lettering about 1mm and take what
the program gives me.
Traditionally, you'd etch a V, or perhaps a rounded trough. I'd just
subtract the lettering which would give you a square inset.
Harvey
On 5/18/2025 4:38 PM, Bob Carlson via Discuss wrote:
I’m working on a small instrument and need some “printing” to be easily readable on a 3D printed surface. It’s easy to cut cut what I want into the surface, but it’s not easily readable. I thought of putting some white nail polish into the grooves. Anybody tried that? If so, is there a best way to shape the grooves for it?
A two color print doesn’t seem worth the effort, but I’ve never attempted it.
-Bob
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