Magic Candy (Giftwrap)

Very easy print with ultimately stunning results.

Surprise someone with this original Magic Candy Giftwrap. It can house small items like rings or money.

First leave the recipient amazed at how you printed this without support!

Then let them worry for a while (tease their brain) how to get their gift out of the package. Only you know the answer!

Once they've thought long enough, tell them what to do and watch them marvel at such magic!

A gift, but especially packaging that they will never forget!

Printing and use:

Print in PLA!!

I printed with 0.6 Nozzle and 0.2 layer height (also first layer!), infill 15%, 2 vertical and 3 horizontal perimeters, no support and no brim. Using a 0.4 nozzle shouldn't be a problem!

Make sure you print with color changes to emphasize the twisting even more!

Make also sure that when adding a gift inside, it is protected against (hot) water and secured in the middle part! This to prevent it from falling out during closing or opening the Candy Wrapper!

The video is a complete guide how to twist the ends and how to open. Practice on the twisting as much as you like since the process is reversible and can be performed again and again.

The diamont shaped figures in the photos is the infill pattern which shines through due to the use of transparent PLA for the middle part.

* Tip: add a text on top of the model for a personal message!

How does it work?

PLA softens at 80°C and is very deformable at temperatures approaching 100°C. This temperature is easy to apply with freshly boiled water where the model is heated uniformly.

With my previous model, in which I placed a printed model of a gecko in a bottle with a very narrow neck, I have already shown that a printed model will almost entirely return to its original shape after deformation by heating and after reheating. This is the so-called shape memory effect of PLA. Think of an elastic band. You stretch it, but it goes back to its original shape.

This model takes this phenomenon to extreme proportions in a fun and magical way.

The middle section has been deliberately made thicker with a low infill (15%) to create a hollow air-filled space. Air is a poor conductor of heat (think of double glazing) and this means that the middle part retains its shape well because the critical temperature is not reached. However, I strongly recommend that you keep the middle part above water as much as possible when you start working yourself!

The hexagon shape makes printing easy and helps with the twisting. It also make nice wrinkles when twisted. The extra rim on both edges are added for some extra strength to make the twisting a little easier.

History (credit)

My first introduction to deforming PLA using hot water was during a visit to a makers fair where there was a local branch of E-Nable. Raise awareness for them is my thank you / credit for introducing me to this technique.

The E-Nable community is an amazing group of volunteers from all over the world who use recipient 3D printers to create free 3D printed hands and arms for people who have a reduction defect in the hand or arm.

The part that is attached over the wrist or arm is brought into the correct shape using a bendingmold and ultimately provided with a soft covering so that it fits seamlessly on the part of the hand or arm that is still present.

Feel free to visit their website and perhaps you can also use your printer(s) for this project. There are local initiatives in several countries!

Link to their website:  E-Nable is Helping