Surface pattern: Rhombille (Customizable)

What is this?

This is a tool to add rhombille-shaped surface texturing to your 3D prints just using slicer modifiers. It goes in the line of the Hex Grid Creator, which also had (limited) surface texturing abilities, but is more specific (and powerful) for surfaces.

The rhombille pattern is the classic “cubes in 3D” pattern: a hexagonal lattice where the hexagons are broken into 3 equal rhombi. You may already be aware of slicer or mesh modifiers: objects added in the slicer that aren’t printed, but modify the settings of their volume.

These modifiers can be added to any flat surface: a top but not topmost layer, or the bottom, or both, even sides (though that might be trickier).

This was inspired by Billie Ruben’s Custom patterns for forced toolpath. It has several advantages, and one main drawback. As advantages, the 3D models used as modifiers are reusable, the workflow is more streamlined (from the OpenSCAD tool to slicer, instead of SVG-Cura plugin-Text editor), it’s more versatile (same modifier can be applied to different models, with different settings…) and you don’t need to post-process the model; instead, the modifier only affects an area of the model, but cannot extend beyond it.

The main drawback: It only does rhombille patterns. For other patterns, you will need to either do them yourself… or keep tuned for the upcoming tools in my Surface Textures series.

Bundle contents

Documentation and reference

Documents with instructions, tips, tricks and reference; found in the “Other files” section.

• Rhombille surface texturing PDF: Document with description, instructions, tips and tricks and tutorials for 2 examples of this tool and technique: the textured banana for scale, and how to make a tri-color LED bar diffuser using only PrusaSlicer shape gallery and the OpenSCAD tool —no MMU or Palette required!
• Using OpenSCAD customizer PDF: Instruction manual on using the OpenSCAD customizer (and customizer-enabled OpenSCAD files), with basic to advanced tips and tricks, including preset management.

3D models and tools

• Rhombille pattern.scad: The main OpenSCAD tool to create your custom surface textures.
• Rhombille pattern.json ("Other files" section): File with the presets used for the examples. Download and place in the same folder as Rhombille pattern.scad
• Banana for scale (folder): An exclusive “50mm” edition of the customizable Banana for Scale, with added textures; 3mf file for PrusaSlicer and the STLs used.
• LED bar diffuser: 3mf files for PrusaSlicer and the STLs used to create the tri-color LED bar diffuser —using only modifiers and PrusaSlicer's Shape Gallery, with no MMU required!
• Medallion - Negative volume: Example of a simple application of negative volumes; 3mf file for PrusaSlicer and the STL of the negative volume used.
• Printables logo (folder): 3mf files for PrusaSlicer and the STLs used to create the textured Printables logo seen in the pictures.

Models of interest

• As stated above, this is a rethinking of Billie Ruben's Custom patterns for forced toolpath, which uses quite a different technique and therefore has different pros and cons. You may want to check that one out!
• Sometimes it's better to use ironing, so my ironing test matrix can come in handy to tune your printer.
• The bottom layer needs a very good z-height (live-z) adjustment; you can use my Precise Live-Z test, which you will recognize as a lightweight version of this with square patterns.
• Multicolor “toothpaste” filaments work pretty well with this technique; if you don't have some, you can make your own with my DIY multicolor filament model.

More surface textures, custom infills and multi-purpose grids to come —stay tuned!