What started as a greeting card design, evolved into Christmas earrings, and finally became these crisscross cutout layered earrings in a variety of shapes. You can use one of the designs I've created, or use this technique with another shape. Be sure to share pictures of your designs :)
Since I don't have multiple extruders, I like to try to come up with designs that can be enhanced by color changes between layers and really kind of took that to the extreme here with 4 color changes. I am quite happy with the results which I have made in Diamond, Oval, Heart, Star, and Broken Heart shapes.
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Step 1: Supplies
Supplies:
- 3D Printer - I'm using a Prusa MK3
- Slicer - I'm using Simplify3D but Cura should be able to do color changes easily too
- Filament in the colors you want. You can do these in one color, but I think 2 looks best.
- Earwires
- Jewelry Pliers
Originally, these designs were going to be just 2 colors in 2 layers, and while they looked interesting during my test prints with 1 color when I tried them with 2, it was just not working. The top color just overpowered the one below and it didn't look nice. After some rethinking, I decided to make these in 5 layers split between 2 colors and I'm pretty happy with the results. You can see the evolution of the design in the second image.
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Step 2: Files
I'll talk about the creation of the designs in the next two steps, but you have to get the designs.
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Step 3: Layered Rectangles
I made these designs using Tinkercad.
Now, to start with you need the earring shape you want in the size you
want. In my example, we are doing the diamond which was 1" wide and
2" tall. The thickness isn't as important right now as you can change it
whenever you want.
Take this shape and make it a hole. Also, make a large square. It doesn't
have to be a certain size, just large enough that it can cut off the ends of
your rectangles later, but mine is 4" by 4". Make it solid.
Line the shapes up so the cutout is in the center and group them.
Now you have the earring shape.
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Turn it into a hole.
Time for the rectangles.
So, this design evolved over time, but in the end, I ended up with an
earring design that consisted of rectangles that are the same length and
width but different heights. I split the rectangles up into 5 heights and
decided they would be two different colors (depending on layer height).
The plan was that the 1st, 3rd, and 5th layers to be one color and the
2nd
and 4th layers to be another. Meaning, I needed the same number of
rectangles split between layers 1,3,5 and 2,4.
To make sure my color coverage was good, I colored the layers so I
could
see where the colors would show up and where they would be
overlapped and covered.
My goal was for each color to be 2 layers when sliced, meaning the first
color went up 2 layers, the second color showed up 4 layers, third was 6
layers, forth was 8 layers and fifth was 10 layers.
Layers/Rectangles: (18 total with 9 of each color) below is # of
rectangles, which color, and height
- 3 - color 1 - .5 mm
- 5 - color 2 - .9 mm
- 3 - color 1 - 1.3 mm
- 4 - color 2 - 1.7 mm
- 3 - color 1 - 2.1 mm
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This is probably confusing, but the design changed so it's a little difficult
to explain how to go from the image above to the one below.
The goal was to make sure the colors were spaced well enough that you
could see about an equal amount of each. I started with each color a
different layer so I could see where everything was.
Then, I checked everything by coloring the layers appropriately. So 1, 3,
and 5 one color with 2 and 4 another color.
From here, I moved rectangles around until I was happy with the layout.
Pay attention to how much of each color you can see and how the edges
of the shape look. You want to try to avoid huge gaps that detract from
the shape. For example, I tried to make sure the rectangles went out at
the diamond points so I would have that definition. Also, make sure you
have some definition at the top so you'll be able to attach the loop.
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Group the rectangles and the shape cutout. If you don't like the look,
ungroup and keep moving things around.
The last thing to do is add a loop. When I can, I prefer to add a hole into
the design to make it look more natural, but the thinness of these lines
didn't allow it. So, I added on a loop that was made from a cylinder that
was 2.68mm in diameter and had a hole that was 1.50mm in diameter.
I made sure everything was centered and connected, then I grouped
them.
To finish off your earrings, I recommend, copying it and mirroring it. I
prefer this to two earrings the same, but it's a personal preference.
Now you have a set of earrings. You can repeat this process for any
shape you'd like.
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Step 4: Printing
Time to print!
These shouldn't take too long, but you have to hang around for all the color changes. You should change the color 4 times.
This is pretty self-explanatory, assuming the slicer did its job and put in the color changes.
Change your color back and forth and you should end with the same color you started with.
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Step 7: Make Earrings
Since the loop is already oriented right, all you should need to do is put on the ear wire and you are done!
If it isn't oriented right, just pop on a small jump ring between the print and the earring.
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