Tiny magnetic watercolor travel palette

I designed this tiny palette as a way to be able to give out samples of watercolor paint to friends, but it is also the perfect palette to take with you for painting on the go! The model uses either 5x2mm neodymium magnets (4 on the lid, 4 on the palette), which allows the model to be as small as possible because there is no need for a hinge. You can even stack them, and the magnets will keep the palettes all lined up together! The palette is not water-tight, so make sure the paint has dried slightly if you want to toss it in your bag, or bring a plastic bag to put it in just in case.

This palette is designed to be printed at a .15mm layer height, which will print 2 layers on top of the magnets. I find that this retains the strength of the magnets the best, and embedding them eliminates any need for glue. 

Print settings:

• Nozzle: .4mm

• Layer height: .15mm

• Pauses: Layers 16 and 41 (for 5x2mm magnets)

For the bottom piece:

I recommend ironing the wells and dividers so there is less of an opportunity for water and pigment to seep into the layer lines. It's okay without ironing, but if you eventually use all the paint and want to put new colors in, there may be some pigment stuck in the wells at the bottom due to the texture of the print.

Because the top layer prints over magnets, you want to make sure you do NOT turn ironing on for the entire model.

• Add "height range modifier"

• Range: 4.50mm-5.25mm

• Add setting: Ironing

  • Use the optimal ironing settings for your printer. Here is what I used on my Mini+ in PrusaSlicer:

    • Enable ironing: True

    • Flow rate: 40%

    • Space between ironing passes: .15mm

    • Ironing type: All top surfaces