Vase Mode Picture Frame

prusaprinters

<p>“Okay, but <i>can</i> I make a picture frame that prints in vase mode and still functions?”</p><p>This is very much a design that happened because I needed to know if it was possible. And it is!</p><p>It holds a photo or other paper item of A6 paper size (105 x 148 mm or 4'1/8" x 5'7/8" in.) and, with the addition of a bit of string or wire, can be hung on a nail on the wall, or other protrusion.&nbsp;</p><p>This frame is designed primarily to hang in portrait orientation, but it can also be hung in landscape. (Instructions below.)</p><p><strong>To print:</strong></p><ul><li>PLA (tested so far)</li><li>Spiral vase mode (Spiralize outer contour)</li><li>Solid bed adhesion - the initial footprint isn't very big</li><li>0.4 line width and nozzle size; 0.2mm line height; I'd be careful with any variations on size and look closely at your slicer results.</li><li>This can probably stand to get a bit bigger—if you enlarge it, I recommend adjusting the X and Z axis equally but leaving Y (from front of frame to back) the same. It probably <i>cannot</i> get much smaller, as some parts of the model are as small as 1mm wide.</li><li>This one takes a <i>while</i> to slice.</li></ul><p><strong>Misc.</strong></p><ul><li>It's also flexible. The zigzag shape is for structure, but it's also perfect for flexibility.</li><li>The filament in the photos is Printed Solid Jessie Blue Ice PLA.</li></ul><h4><strong>How to Hang</strong></h4><p><strong>Portrait/vertical:</strong></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/148460/rich_content/3f3aec16-7d45-407b-aba1-3b06ab396c26/forinline2.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2259e79e28-3f81-4592-b034-03b9f1629971%22%2C%22w%22%3A1613%2C%22h%22%3A1210%7D"></figure><p>Run a string through both of the vertical hooks on the back and tie it off so it's a loop, and so there's not too much give. A slightly thicker string will stay in place better <i>a la</i> friction fit. Then hang it on a nail or hook! The frame is shaped so that a low profile nail/hook will be recessed within the space of the frame's back.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Landscape/horizontal:</strong></p><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://media.prusaprinters.org/media/prints/148460/rich_content/c87d6ae4-5681-462e-86be-26cabeee309e/forinline1.jpg#%7B%22uuid%22%3A%2209c800e7-7606-468d-aa49-aff3f39cfa62%22%2C%22w%22%3A1613%2C%22h%22%3A1210%7D"></figure><p>Take a not-too-long string with a knot on either end and push the knots into the recess between zigzags on either side (or the same side tbh.) Select a recess at the halfway mark or further up, as per your hanging needs. Slide the knots in a bit so that they're even, and pull up the slack in the string. Ta-da!&nbsp;</p><h4><strong>New to vase mode or still learning?</strong></h4><ul><li>Spiral vase mode takes the outside wall of a solid, continuous model and calculates a continuous single spiraling path to print to the top. (Usually this is after a few standard solid layers at the bottom - PLA is very flexible when thin, and this gives it more stability.)</li><li>In Prusa slicer, this is the “Spiral vase” option you can check off in Print Settings &gt; Layers and Perimeters. It will automatically change several of your settings to be compatible with the mode.</li><li>In Cura slicer: Special Modes &gt; Spiralize Outer Contour</li><li>To get a good vase mode print, you'll want to refine a couple more settings. You want to print slow and steady, lower in the filament's temperature range, and at a lower extrusion rate than normal printing. IMO you should test this for each filament, as well as for different layer heights, to determine a temperature, extrusion %, and speed (if the speed hasn't been slowed down automatically) to get a nice, clean vase mode print with that filament. Too much extrusion will get you tiny bumps around your print; too little can make it too fragile and prone to cracking between layers.</li></ul>