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- Archive August 2026 Gridfinity Extravaganza - Set September 2026 Practi"FALL" Prints as active challenge - Set October 2026 as upcoming challenge - Create announcements/September2026.md and challenges/September-2026/ - Update Important-Dates, Readme, challenges.md, and sync wiki-content-gitea - Update wiki-fargo3d submodule pointer Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
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3.6 KiB
Table of Contents
3D Print Meetup Challenges
Welcome to our monthly 3D printing challenges! Each month features a unique theme designed to test different aspects of 3D printing skills, from material handling to design innovation.
Active Challenge
September 2026: "Practi"FALL" Prints"
Theme: Functional Utility & Everyday Practicality
Key Details:
- Model: Any functional or practical print (door stop, bottle/can opener, tool, bracket, organizer, etc.)
- Goal: Create a functional item that solves a real-world problem or makes life easier
- Focus: Share your print use case, design/slicing approach, and durability considerations
Upcoming Challenge
October 2026: "[Theme TBD]"
Status: Planning in progress
Expected Timeline:
- Announcement: September meeting (September 16th, 2026)
- Submission Period: October 2026
- Judging: October 2026
Challenge Archive
2026 Challenges
| Month | Challenge Name | Theme | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | "Bring an Experiment" | Try something new | Archived |
| May | "Bring an Experiment (Round 2!)" | Try something new, crazy, or wild | Archived |
| June | "Show & Tell Extravaganza!" | Community Showcase | Archived |
| July | "Scarf Seams" | Seam Placement & Settings | Archived |
| August | "Gridfinity Extravaganza" | Organizational Efficiency | Archived |
| September | "Practi"FALL" Prints" | Functional Utility & Practicality | Active |
| October | [TBD] | [TBD] | Planning |
2025 Challenges
| Month | Challenge Name | Theme | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | "Is it Glass or Clearly Natural?" | Transparency & Clarity | Archived |
| November | "Wait, This Was Printed?" | Surface Finish & Layer Lines | Archived |
| December | "Bring Your Test Models" | Calibration & Test Prints | Archived |
How Challenges Work
Challenge Structure
Each monthly challenge includes:
- Specific theme focusing on different 3D printing aspects
- Clear requirements for models, materials, and techniques
- Multiple award categories for different achievements
- Community judging during show & tell sessions
- Documentation sharing for learning and improvement
Participation
- Open to all skill levels - beginners to experts welcome
- Bring your submission to the monthly meetup
- Share your process - settings, techniques, and lessons learned
- Vote on favorites during community judging
- Learn from others through shared experiences
Awards & Recognition
Each challenge features multiple ways to win:
- Technical excellence awards for best execution
- Innovation awards for creative approaches
- People's choice awards from community voting
- Category-specific awards based on challenge theme
- Social media features for all participants
Challenge Development
Suggesting Challenges
Community members can suggest future challenge themes:
- Submit ideas during meetup discussions
- Discord voting on proposed themes
- School partnership input for educational value
- Skill development focus areas
Challenge Template
For organizers developing new challenges, see our Challenge Template which provides the standard structure and guidelines for creating engaging monthly competitions.
Current Focus: Join us for the September Practi"FALL" Prints challenge and bring your functional prints to the September 16th meetup!