For manually-adjusted calendars, one important feature is the ease to change the day/month display daily. This perpetual desk calendar is designed with that in mind - the month and day digits can be individually adjusted using the respective wheels.
I've chose a ‘retro, blast from the past’ design theme to reflect the age before electronic and digital calendars took over.
Printing and Assembly
With some patience, good quality filaments, and a well-tuned printer, you should be able to put together this desk calendar by following the assembly instructions below.
The print profile I've provided already has support enabled for the parts that require it.
There are two options in the print profile for the months/days wheels - single color (faster, easier to print) and multi-color (slower to print).
Printing
Print out the parts in the color scheme of your choice.
Remove the support from parts that have it. The removal needs to be cleanly done, especially for mating surfaces.
The tolerances in the axle parts are intentionally tight to ensure a nice 'feel' when rotating the months/days wheels. Depending on your printer set up, some deburring or light sanding may be required to get a good fit.
Assembly
Pair the axles to the months/days wheels as shown in the photo below.
Take care to orientate the text of the wheels correctly.
The axles will fit together relatively tight, while the wheels should freely rotate.
The assembled wheels and axles should look like the photo below.
Take note that the slots of the face plate will line up with the wheels (for the next step).
In this step, follow this assembly order:
Insert the shell of the body into the left end cap first.
Next, fit the face plate over the wheels and axles assembly. Check that the correct side of face plate is facing outwards!
Then slide this whole assembly into the shell, towards the left end cap.
Note: If the supports for the face plate were not removed cleanly, you will encounter difficulty in the following steps.
Carefully slide the ‘ear’ of the face plate (with the wheels+axles assembly) into the left end cap.
Likewise, fit the right end cap on carefully.
The whole assembly should be rigid at this point for use. (If you find the end caps too loose, you may apply a suitable amount of adhesive to the mating surfaces between the end caps, the shell, and the face plate).
Initially the wheels might feel a bit stiff when turning. This will smooth out after some use.
Hope you'll like this and please check out my other models too. Thank you!