182 Piece Globe Earth Jigsaw Puzzle

Update: There has been some discussion regarding the supports for the printed pieces. Myself and others have agreed that removing the supports for all 182 pieces is quite difficult and tedious. I believe this is due to the small size of the pieces and the supports being attached to relatively large surface areas, making removal tricky.

That said, the model remains fully printable and can still be assembled, so for those who don’t mind a bit of extra work, don’t feel discouraged!

I do have an idea for improving this, but with work and other projects, finding the time may take a while. However, I hope to implement a fix and will provide an update when it’s ready.

Many thanks for everyone’s feedback and support!

 

182 Piece Globe Earth Jigsaw Puzzle.

Explore the world with this 182-piece 3D Globe Earth Jigsaw Puzzle, designed to make learning geography interactive and enjoyable.

This project was inspired by a 3D globe jigsaw puzzle I loved as a child. I spent hours with it, trying to memorize all the countries. Now, as a recent mechanical engineering graduate and 3D printing enthusiast, I saw this as a fun design challenge to recreate something similar for others to enjoy.

What's Included:

• Two Complete Jigsaw Sets:
  • Multicolour Printing Set: Optimised for users with AMS, allowing you to print the continents and oceans in vibrant, distinct colours.
  • Single-Color Printing Set: Designed for printers without AMS or those who simply want to print in one colour, this option keeps material usage and print time lower while still creating a clean and polished result.
• An Assortment of Stands:
  • Pedestal Stand: A sturdy option for tabletop display.
  • Angled Stand: Showcases the globe at an accurate tilt of 23.44°, replicating the Earth’s axial tilt.
  • Simple Ring Stand: A minimalist design for an easy and clean display option.
• Two Print Profiles:
  • Profile 1 for printers such as A1/X1/P1s etc.
  • Profile 2 for smaller printers such as the A1 Mini.
• Test Plate:
  • To help you get the best results, I’ve included a test plate for both the multicolour and single-colour prints. This plate contains all the different types of jigsaw pieces, allowing you to test print them and ensure they work well with your printer before committing to the full project to identify any potential issues.

Printing & Post Processing Tips:

Throughout this project, I’ve tested various print settings and orientations to find the best balance between print quality, time, and material usage. This ensures the best possible printing experience and a polished final product.

• For the multicolour printing set, the ideal orientation is to lay the jigsaw pieces flat with the arch facing upwards as done so in the .3MF file. This orientation provides the best trade-off between quality, time, and material usage. Printing the pieces in this orientation may result in a "stepped" appearance on the surface due to the layer height. If you want to reduce this effect, you can decrease the layer height in your slicer settings. However, keep in mind that this significantly increases print time and material usage, so it’s best to make this adjustment only if necessary. The choice is yours—balance quality with practicality based on your preferences and setup!

   

• The pieces in this model are designed to press fit together, keeping the completed puzzle strong and preventing it from collapsing. Due to this and the spherical shape, inserting the final piece may be a little tricky. To make it easier, I recommend lightly filing or sanding the edges of the final piece to turn it from a press fit into a clearance fit. This makes inserting the last piece smoother and allows you to take the puzzle apart more easily if needed.

   

• The pieces are quite small in volume and the supports (for the multi-coloured set) are adhered to a large surface area and can sometimes make them quite tedious to remove. One method I found to be useful was to use the Bambu scrapper or similar to cut in-between the model and supports and then pry them apart. But please be careful not to cut yourself on the scrapper if you try this!

Note From Designer:

While I’ve designed quite a few pieces before, this is my first large-scale project that I’ve both designed and printed. I’m always open to feedback, so feel free to share your thoughts and if you like this model don't forget to rate and boost!

 

Also, This project is a long and large print, so proper preparation is key! Before starting, make sure to:

• Clean your print bed to ensure good adhesion.
• Check your nozzle for blockages to avoid wasting time and material.

(Ask me how I know... 😅)

 

I hope you enjoy this project—both the process of printing it and the satisfaction of completing the jigsaw. Many thanks, and happy printing!

 

Completed Jigsaw Puzzle:

If you find yourself stuck while assembling the model or just want to complete it quickly, I’ve included images of the finished puzzle to help you out. These reference images can be found in the assembly guide provided as well as the assembly instructions for angled stand. Happy puzzling!

Boost MeI’ve really enjoyed working on this project—it’s been both a fun challenge and a nostalgic throwback to my childhood. If you’ve enjoyed it too, please consider giving it a boost! Your support helps me create more exciting models to share with everyone. Thank you!