Mini Retractable Sword 11 - Mecha Sword 3

Introduction:

Mini Retractable Sword 11—Mech Sword 3: Inspired by recent mecha and mechanical design elements, this design evolved organically as I sketched and refined it, without a preliminary draft. It’s a freestyle creation, a culmination of adjustments and improvisations, and I'm quite pleased with the final form—it precisely captures the aesthetic I've long envisioned. The hilt's shape subtly resembles a Monster Hunter shield axe, with deliberate asymmetry to avoid a rigid appearance. Circular elements evoke clockwork motifs, while hollowed-out hard lines create visual depth. The handle’s openwork enhances a sense of lightness. The design has been meticulously smoothed for children's safe play, providing an ergonomic and comfortable grip.

This is the eleventh mini retractable sword in my series, modeled in Plasticity (PL) for seamless, assembly-free 3D printing. It takes roughly two hours to print and is perfectly sized for both adults and children, suitable even for the A1 mini. I plan to continue developing this series.

I've recently been learning and practicing with Plasticity. This software handles hard-surface models with remarkable fluidity; its offsetting, chamfering, cutting, and mirroring functionalities are truly exceptional, and operation is remarkably smooth. Initially, I found the lack of precision (compared to Fusion 360) challenging—sizing and positioning largely relied on visual estimation. My Blender skills are also quite rudimentary, requiring me to essentially relearn the shortcuts. Furthermore, the absence of a timeline undo function initially caused some apprehension, yet the software's inherent ease of iterative adjustment seemingly mitigates that dependence, perfectly suited to my meticulous, iterative workflow. For models where aesthetic expression takes precedence over precise dimensional requirements, particularly hard-surface models, this software is exceptionally well-suited. I will continue learning and using Plasticity, honing my hard-surface modeling skills. Those interested are welcome to join me in this exploration.

Specifications: 8% spiral infill, aligned seams, no brim, supports (hand-drawn), and other standard settings.

Notes:

1. Avoid printing multiple copies simultaneously; this increases the risk of printing failures.

2. The retractable sword model has a relatively small base. To prevent spaghetti-like prints or model vibrations leading to layer shifts, it's recommended to clean the build plate, use adhesive spray/paste, and increase the bed temperature by 5℃.

3. If the first few layers adhere and prevent completion of the print, carefully slice the adhesion with an art knife.

4. If a section isn’t retracting smoothly, this might be due to slight extrusion issues or layer shifting; repeated retraction should resolve this.

5. Testing was conducted with PLA only. PETG may lead to adhesion problems or excessively tight tolerances affecting retraction. It's advisable to use dry filament and adjust the hole compensation as necessary.

Recommendations:

Fans of mini retractable swords should explore the creations of Mr. Cheng @老程3D设计; his page features numerous exceptional mini retractable sword models, characterized by superb design and short print times. Link: https://makerworld.com.cn/zh/@GLB_user_443836540

You are also welcome to visit my profile: https://makerworld.com.cn/zh/@user_3465884736

Recommended Plasticity (PL) Creators (Thank you to these creators for guiding my introduction to PL):

[TIEZHU课堂的个人空间-TIEZHU课堂个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频]

[白泽2012的个人空间-白泽2012个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频]

[船长C4D产品表现的个人空间-船长C4D产品表现个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频]

[YA工坊的个人空间-YA工坊个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频]

[三年又三年w的个人空间-三年又三年w个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频]

[圈点Studio投稿视频-圈点Studio视频分享-哔哩哔哩视频]

Blender骇客的个人空间-Blender骇客个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频 (Repost of PL videos)

Recommended Mecha and Hard-Surface Element Creators (Thank you to these creators for elevating my design aesthetic):

蒙野骨手的个人空间-蒙野骨手个人主页-哔哩哔哩视频, @蒙野骨手

https://makerworld.com.cn/zh/@GLB_KitCrafters/upload , @Kit Crafters