December 6, 2025
Description
This model was designed to solve some stability issues found in similar popular flat-pack tree charms.
The tree is formed from two interlocking trunk pieces and star-shaped branches that slot onto the central post. The strength comes from printing all parts flat in the XY plane.
It can be printed as a complete kit on 180x180 bed, or as individual components (Trunk, Branches) should you want to print them separately in different colors.
The chain included in the kit-card comes from my earlier project Linked Chain Generator, Easy FDM Print.
Dimensions: ornament 10cm/4in high, lowest branch 7cm/3in wide, assembled with chain and hooks 30cm/1ft long.
Modular Design: 11 pieces for complete. Assembles in minutes.
Secure Assembly: this slotted flat-pack design utilizes tight tolerances and integrated press-fit latches on the trunk. Assembled ornament is sturdy and stable.
Ready To Hang: the kit includes all necessary hanging hardware: a chain, D-ring (to link the chain to the trunk's eyelet), and S-hook suitable for branches up to 20mm thickness.
Kit Card: does not have traditional frame around kit, but all 11 pieces are connected. When your plate cools down, grab it by the chain, so you don't have to touch the plate.
Fast Print & Economical: prints in little over 1 hour on A1 Mini and uses only 18g of filament. Make over 50 from single roll of filament!
PLA, 0.4mm nozzle, 0.2mm layer.
The branches need good push force to click on latches.
I posted this a week ago and just noticed Holiday Ornament Challenge so I am entering it. Adding a pic from our tree. Challenge organizers would also like to know a bit about my design process and since I am a coder, nothing says more about a coder's design process than his code, so I am posting it as well. Its not exactly same code used for published STL, as chain library has gone through extensive update since last week, but ornament code is essentially same. For tinkering with code use OpenSCAD Nightly, stable version just takes forever to render.
UPDATE Jan 14, 2026: holiday 2025 challenge is now closed, source code was removed. It is now available on request for a small price, which includes perpetual commercial use of 3d prints from generated files. I am currently in process to setup a venue, stay tuned. In the meantime test the included STL files and know that source will allow changing width, height, number of levels, shape of branches, clearance, and other parameters. Feel free to post suggestions for improvement.
License:
Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial - Share Alike
romgar
