Snowflake Christmas tree as a set of scaled layers, separated at fixed height intervals. Leaf pattern has a 'branch' feel.

Print files for two heights are provided: 170 mm or 250 mm trunk length.  

• The 250 mm trunk height is the  biggest that fits on the MK3S build plate.  This size tree requires three print files to print all the parts.
• The 170 mm trunk height requires only two files to print the fewer number of parts.

The design is optimised to print easily with no supports and no overhangs.

Print the trunk, spacers, layers and base and assemble. The layers and spacers are numbered to ease assembly. Start from the top layer and end with the base.

The octagonal trunk shape prints easily, with the star attached into the top.

The base is hollow with a cover plate. Fill with heavy material to add weight for stability.

The longer trunks are quite flexible, hence the spacers widen towards the bottom, providing stability against swaying.  The tight friction fit between the octagonal trunk and circular hole in the layers and base limits free movement and swaying. If the fit is too tight, sand the trunk corners. Even better stability is obtained by tightly stacking and glueing  the layers and spacers to the trunk.

The smallest-scale layer may pose a challenge to some printers: some of the details in the top one or two layers are very small. Therefore ensure good bed adhesion and check the first layer print.

The -ct- versions of the 3mf files have a cut-out in the top two layers, with associated colour change.  If the top two layers are printed in white, this would appear as snow on the branch tips.  One of the pictures shows this effect, but was printed incorrectly with the colour change one layer too soon. The uploaded 3mf files fixed this.

This design is part of a series:

Flowery design

Leafy design

Star design

Branchy design

Pine design

Wave design

The patterns are created in CAD, imported as DXF and processed to print files using cadquery.