Bubble Hut

myminifactory

I designed this little hut as a new house for my fish, Silver’s aquarium!! I started by designing in Photoshop and then used the image to 3D tool in SelfCAD to create the walls for the hut. After importing, I manipulated the form by stretching and tapering the walls. This project is a submission for the SelfCAD / MyMiniFactory design competition! I wanted to create an enclosure that he would feel safe in while sleeping, yet have many openings for him to explore and look out of.  I also wanted to have the hut be smooth without sharp edges as betta fish have decorative fins that can be easily damaged. I’ve also incorporated a planter at the top to hold the moss ball.  This model was printed in wood filament and finished with a non-toxic epoxy coating. I had let the epoxy sit for several days to ensure the coat was fully cured before adding to the tank. The epoxy coating is important to add as it is waterproof and adds a protective layer onto the 3d print and makes it easier to clean as bacteria can build up between the layers of an unfinished 3d print. I chose wood filament for its aesthetics but also because wood filament is more porous than most other filaments and was able to get a strong bond with the epoxy. This model DID require support material. However it is important to note that I only used support material from the build plate! Otherwise you will be spending an eternity trying to remove supports from all of the circle openings. You only need the supports to hold the top for the moss ball planter. I also made sure to surround the hut with gravel to make sure it did not float to the surface. (Something I will make sure to account for in future aquarium models) Full video of how I 3D modeled this print using SelfCAD can be found on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/umqn8J09OTY Free music in video from: www.bensound.com