Articulated big and mini Optimus Prime w weapons

No AMS needed (only 11 filament change times in the whole project)

NO screws

Can be scaled (I'm testing and about to release a 60% size also with alternative head)*

*UPDATE:

All the joints fit with a snap granting mobility to the mecha

There are different versions of both the hands and the head

There are two different weapons (for now…)

Tolerances are a bit more "conservative" to avoid problems when assembling: may be useful some glue on non-mobile inserts.

READY-TO-PRINT: download the .3mf file to have all the right settings for this project.

Here some details on the settings I've used:

Every filament has this Setting Override → Z-hop when retract: 0.8mm / Z-hop type: Auto

0.4mm nozzle, 0.2mm layer height (only face.stl and head_V2.stl has adaptive layers)

Seams on the back

Arachne 50°

3 wall loops

4 Top and bottom shells

Infill 5% Honeycomb

Outer wall speed 60mm/s → Small Perimeters: 50%

5mm brim @ 0.1mm distance (some pieces with many details around the printed base have No-brim setting)

Print by Object on plates with different color's pieces

Manual Tree supports where needed with optimal settings: really easy to remove them smoothly

- Initial layer expansion: 4mm

- Support wall loops: 2

- Top Z distance: 0.16mm

- Top interface layers: 3

- Top interface spacing: 0mm

- Support/object xy distance: 0.5mm

- Branch diameter: 3mm

- Branch angle: 60°

*Head_V2 has elephant foot compensation (0.1mm) ‘cause it has holes on the base that won’t fit if not activated

*Ribs.stl is the only piece with Normal manual supports with Snug style:

I recommend using an art knife (see the picture below) to separate the supports from the print really easily.

Recommended tools:

This is a big project with 36 pieces, so having the right tools to clean the print is paramount.

• Deburring tool: very useful to remove the brim residuals smoothly without leaving any mark.
• Art knife with a flat (not pointy) blade: perfect for cutting between the print and the supports (Normal, snug).
• Wire cutter: use it to do a single cut on the brim so you can easily peel it off using hands only.
• Tweezers: perfect to reach little pieces inside the printed parts and to place the details (belt, eyes) correctly.
• Pliers: to have the perfect grip when removing tree and normal supports.
• Butane torch: to remove filament strings etc.

Start from the feet: I recommend to wet the snaps (just with water, no oils) before assembling them.

Carefully clean the snap from any brim residue/print errors and then snap the legs on the feet

Snap the upper legs and plug the barrels

Snap the belt on the upper legs

Insert the belt details on front

…and on the back

Insert the belly

Insert the ribs

Snap the chest on the ribs

Insert the glasses in the chest

Snap the shoulder on the chest

Insert the icon and the white stripe.

Important: mount the shoulder stripe BEFORE the muffler

Insert the muffler and slide in the biceps.

Important: mount the shoulder stripe BEFORE the muffler.

Snap the arm on the biceps

Insert the white stripe (be sure to match the right side because there's a little chamfer) and the hand. Repeat for the other arm.

Snap the neck on the chest

Insert the eyes in the face

Face_V2:

Slide the face in position on the helm

Face_V2:

Insert the completed head on the neck. Done.

You can also download and print different weapons, heads and hands to find which you like the most and try different poses.