The new, Mini 2, sopranino sized ukulele with a 10.2 inch scale length, significantly improving on my original Mini Pocket Ukulele.
What's new in the Mini 2:
- Wider fretboard for better playability.
- New method for printing the body flat, rather than upright like the mini.
- Flexible ways of printing the body top for a variety different looks for the ukulele.
- Easier assembly.
- A new headstock and inlay design.
- Improved tuner design that allows tuning to higher pitches where the Mini 2 really shines.
- Improved .3mf files with support for AMS.
- Full color body tops.
- A template for easily integrating Hueforge prints onto the body top.
Update!
02-01-2026 - I've added a new .3mf file and .stl files with the neck split into neck and headstock for printing on smaller printers like the A1 Mini. A number 4, 1'' wood screw is required to screw the headstock to the neck. Metric equivalent screw is an M3 x 25 mm.
How's it sound? Check out the sound demo below.
Building the Uke
For details on building the uke, see the video above. I like Gorilla brand super glue gel for parts that need to be glued.
The saddle is a compensated saddle. When placing it in the slot in the bridge, pay attention to the orientation. The peaks in the middle part of the bridge should be further from the top of the uke, and peaks on the edges of the bridge should be nearer the top.
Filament
I use PLA or PETG. I recommend avoiding filaments with additives, such as PLA silk, matte, or wood as these often have much lower strength. Bambu PLA basic has a bending strength of 76 MPa and tensile strength of 35 MPa according to Bambu Lab's Technical Data Sheets. I have found that filaments with similar or greater values work well.
Print Settings
- Rafts: No
- Supports: None of the parts require supports
- Resolution: 0.12 mm
- Wall loops: 5
- Infill: 50%
Parts needed
- Body
- Body top
- Bridge (if printed separately from the Body Top)
- Braces
- Top glue aide
- Neck and Headstock
- Inlay, if using
- Fretboard
- Saddle
- Strap pin, if you want to use a strap
If you are using a smaller printer like the A1 mini and the neck and headstock is too tall to print, you can use the split neck and headstock, so you will need to print:
- Neck
- Headstock
- Headstock screw hole cover
In addition to the printed parts, you'll need
- Eight, #2, 3/8'' wood screws for installing the [tuners](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7267324). Metric equivalent is M2x8mm.
- Ukulele strings - I like [D'Addario Nyltech](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MB992Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1).
- A 150 mm long, 5 mm diameter carbon fiber rod in the neck for strength, available from Amazon.
- If the bridge was printed separately from the body top, two, #2, ¼'' wood screws. Metric equivalent is M2x5mm.
- If you use the split neck and headstock, you will also need one #2, 3/8'' ' wood screw is to screw the headstock to the neck. In addition, use superglue in between neck and headstock.
The Body Top
The body top can be printed in different ways:
- With center ring and bridge in different colors using the AMS. Bridge and center ring are attached to the body. A .step file is included for making full-color tops.
- With the bridge and center ring attached to the body top, and printed in different colors by pausing the print and switching filaments.
- With the bridge printed separately from the body. In this case the body top can be printed upside down and different build plates used for effects such as a flat shiny top or a top with rainbow textures from a holographic build plate, for example.
The Fretboard
The fretboard can be printed in different ways
- With the frets, fret markers, nut in different colors using the AMS
- With the frets and nut in different colors by pausing the print and switching filaments. In this case, 5 fret markers should printed and glued in during assembly.
Tuners
You'll need four of my all new [Mini ukulele tuners](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7267324). The video on the mini tuner page provides instructions on installation.
Stringing and Tuning the Uke
For the strings, I use regular soprano uke strings. I like D'Addario Nyltech. There are many instructions on Youtube available for stringing a uke. Search for how to string a slotted bridge uke.
The Mini 2 ukulele can be tuned to GCEA like a regular soprano and sounds great. However, I often also tune it higher to CFAD. At this tuning, the string tension is similar to a soprano tuned to GCEA.
Using the HueForge template
HueForge template .step and .3mf files are provided to make it easy to integrate a Hueforge print onto the ukulele body top. To use this template follow the instructions below.
- Load the “Mini 2 Body Top HueForge Template.step” file into Bambu Studio.
- In the left pane in the Objects view in Bambu Studio right click on the Assembly and select split to objects. This has already been done in the Mini 2 Hueforge Template.3mf file.
- Drag your HueForge .stl into Bambu Studio.
- Position the HueForge with respect to the top as desired. It helps to turn off visibility of the Body Top and Bridge in the Objects pane to position the HueForge. Make sure not to move the top with respect to the bridge accidentally.
- Select both the Body Top and the HueForge (I use CTRL click for this).
- Click on Mesh Boolean in the Bambu Studio tool bar, select Intersection and click Execute. This can take a while so wait for a bit.
- Select both the bridge and the Top/HueForge Boolean in the Objects pane, right click, and select merge.
- Slice the plate.
- In the preview pane, add color filaments changes at the layer heights indicated by the Hueforge describe.txt.
- Reslice, print, and enjoy.
Notes on Designing the HueForge for the Ukulele Top
For the best sound, the top of the body shouldn't be too thick. However, it also can't be too thin or the top will become too weak to hold the string tension. I use these general rules of thumb when designing a HueForge for the ukulele top.
- I use a Layer Height of 0.08 mm.
- Base Layer of 0.16 mm.
- Base Thickness of 1.2 mm
- I target a thickness for the first color (including Base Thickness) of around 1.4 mm, which is the thickness of the top of the uke without a HueForge.
- I try to keep the maximum height of the HueForge at 2.5 mm or less so it doesn't get too thick.
jwnicholson
