diff --git a/Current-Challenge.md b/Current-Challenge.md index 80dd00f..1182ebe 100644 --- a/Current-Challenge.md +++ b/Current-Challenge.md @@ -1,178 +1,86 @@ -[← Back to Home Page](Home)[← Back to Home Page](Home) +[← Back to Home Page](Home) +# Current Challenge: November 2025 +## "Wait, This Was Printed? How Are There No Layer Lines?" -# Current Challenge: November 2025# Current Challenge: November 2025 +Can you achieve the smoothest, most layer-line-free surface finish possible? This challenge pushes your printer tuning, slicer settings, and material knowledge to the limit. The goal is simple but difficult: create a 25mm cube with 2 walls and no top that looks so smooth, people question whether it was actually 3D printed! +## Challenge Details +### Materials & Constraints -## "Wait, This Was Printed? How Are There No Layer Lines?"## "Wait, This Was Printed? How Are There No Layer Lines?" +- **Filament**: 3D Fuel filament (any type: PLA+, Pro PLA+, PCTG etc.) +- **Nozzle Requirement**: Must use a 0.4mm nozzle (REQUIRED) +- **Estimated Filament Usage**: Approximately 3 grams (for reference only) +- **Model Specification**: + - **Dimensions**: Exactly 25mm x 25mm x 25mm cube (REQUIRED) + - **Wall Count**: Exactly 2 walls (no more, no less) (REQUIRED) + - **Top Layers**: 0 (no top surface) + - **Bottom Layers**: Standard (as needed for proper adhesion) + - **Infill**: 0% (hollow interior) +- **Print Mode**: Standard FDM/FFF printing (no resin printing) +### Competition Categories +- **Smoothest Surface**: Best overall surface finish with minimal visible layer lines straight off the printer +- **No post-processing allowed** - cubes must be judged as-printed -Can you achieve the smoothest, most layer-line-free surface finish possible? This challenge pushes your printer tuning, slicer settings, and material knowledge to the limit. The goal is simple but difficult: create a 25mm cube with 2 walls and no top that looks so smooth, people question whether it was actually 3D printed!Can you achieve the smoothest, most layer-line-free surface finish possible? This challenge pushes your printer tuning, slicer settings, and material knowledge to the limit. The goal is simple but difficult: create a 25mm cube with 2 walls and no top that looks so smooth, people question whether it was actually 3D printed! +### Judging Criteria - - -## Challenge Details## Challenge Details - - - -### Materials & Constraints### Materials & Constraints - - - -- **Filament**: 3D Fuel filament (any type: PLA+, Pro PLA+, PCTG etc.)- **Filament**: 3D Fuel filament (any type: PLA+, Pro PLA+, PCTG etc.) - -- **Nozzle Requirement**: Must use a 0.4mm nozzle (REQUIRED)- **Nozzle Requirement**: Must use a 0.4mm nozzle (REQUIRED) - -- **Estimated Filament Usage**: Approximately 3 grams (for reference only)- **Estimated Filament Usage**: Approximately 3 grams (for reference only) - -- **Model Specification**:- **Model Specification**: - - - **Dimensions**: Exactly 25mm x 25mm x 25mm cube (REQUIRED) - **Dimensions**: Exactly 25mm x 25mm x 25mm cube (REQUIRED) - - - **Wall Count**: Exactly 2 walls (no more, no less) (REQUIRED) - **Wall Count**: Exactly 2 walls (no more, no less) (REQUIRED) - - - **Top Layers**: 0 (no top surface) - **Top Layers**: 0 (no top surface) - - - **Bottom Layers**: Standard (as needed for proper adhesion) - **Bottom Layers**: Standard (as needed for proper adhesion) - - - **Infill**: 0% (hollow interior) - **Infill**: 0% (hollow interior) - -- **Print Mode**: Standard FDM/FFF printing (no resin printing)- **Print Mode**: Standard FDM/FFF printing (no resin printing) - - - -### Competition Categories### Competition Categories - - - -- **Smoothest Surface**: Best overall surface finish with minimal visible layer lines straight off the printer- **Smoothest Surface**: Best overall surface finish with minimal visible layer lines straight off the printer - -- **No post-processing allowed** - cubes must be judged as-printed- **No post-processing allowed** - cubes must be judged as-printed - - - -### Judging Criteria### Judging Criteria - - - -1. **Layer Line Visibility** (100%): The appearance and visibility of layer lines - less visible is better1. **Layer Line Visibility** (100%): The appearance and visibility of layer lines - less visible is better - - - All cubes must meet basic challenge requirements (25mm cube dimensions, exactly 2 walls, 0.4mm nozzle, no post-processing) - All cubes must meet basic challenge requirements (25mm cube dimensions, exactly 2 walls, 0.4mm nozzle, no post-processing) - - - Winner is determined solely by smoothness of surface and minimal layer line appearance - Winner is determined solely by smoothness of surface and minimal layer line appearance - - - **Tiebreaker**: If two prints are too close to differentiate, the fastest print time wins - **Tiebreaker**: If two prints are too close to differentiate, the fastest print time wins - -4. **Challenge Adherence** (10%): Following material constraints and using supplied model - -### Submission Requirements +1. **Layer Line Visibility** (100%): The appearance and visibility of layer lines - less visible is better + - All cubes must meet basic challenge requirements (25mm cube dimensions, exactly 2 walls, 0.4mm nozzle, no post-processing) + - Winner is determined solely by smoothness of surface and minimal layer line appearance ### Submission Requirements - **Physical Model**: Bring your printed 25mm cube to the December meetup for judging +- **Dimension Verification**: Must be exactly 25mm x 25mm x 25mm +- **Wall Count Verification**: Must show exactly 2 walls when inspected +- **Nozzle Verification**: Must be printed with 0.4mm nozzle +- **Settings Documentation**: Share your winning settings (layer height, temperature, speed, cooling, techniques) +- **Process Notes**: Brief description of your approach -- **Dimension Verification**: Must be exactly 25mm x 25mm x 25mm- **Model Compliance**: Cylinder must measure 25mm diameter x 50mm height +## Timeline -- **Wall Count Verification**: Must show exactly 2 walls when inspected- **Vase Mode**: Must be printed in vase mode (single perimeter wall) - -- **Nozzle Verification**: Must be printed with 0.4mm nozzle- **Weight Verification**: Should use approximately 6 grams of filament - -- **Print Time**: Record and report your total print time (used as tiebreaker if needed)- **Documentation**: Include photos showing transparency (with light sources) - -- **Settings Documentation**: Share your winning settings (layer height, temperature, speed, cooling, techniques)- **Settings Documentation**: Share printer settings used (layer height, temperature, speed, etc.) - -- **Process Notes**: Brief description of your approach- **Process Notes**: Brief description of techniques used to achieve clarity - - - -## Timeline## Timeline - - - -- **Challenge Announcement**: November 12, 2025 (at November meetup)- **Challenge Announcement**: October 1, 2025 - -- **Submission Deadline**: December 10, 2025 (at December meetup)- **Model Specification Released**: October 13, 2025 - -- **Judging Period**: December 10, 2025 (during December meetup)- **Submission Deadline**: October 28, 2025 - -- **Winner Announcement**: December 10, 2025 (end of December meetup)- **Judging Period**: October 29-30, 2025 - -- **Winner Announcement**: October 31, 2025 +- **Challenge Announcement**: November 12, 2025 (at November meetup) +- **Submission Deadline**: December 10, 2025 (at December meetup) +- **Judging Period**: December 10, 2025 (during December meetup) +- **Winner Announcement**: December 10, 2025 (end of December meetup) ## Creating the Cube Model -## Creating the Cylinder Model - ### Using the Provided Model -### Using Bambu Studio - **Download the pre-configured cube:** +- **File Location**: [Challenge Files/November2025/Cube.3mf](https://meetup.fargo3d.com/Fargo3d/3DPrintMeetup/src/branch/master/Challenge%20Files/November2025/Cube.3mf) +- **Pre-configured**: Already set to 25mm x 25mm x 25mm with 2 walls and no top +- **Ready to slice**: Import into your slicer and adjust settings for your printer + +### Using Bambu Studio + **Step 1: Add Primitive** - -- **File Location**: [Challenge Files/November2025/Cube.3mf](https://meetup.fargo3d.com/Fargo3d/3DPrintMeetup/src/branch/master/Challenge%20Files/November2025/Cube.3mf)1. Open Bambu Studio to a new project - -- **Pre-configured**: Already set to 25mm x 25mm x 25mm with 2 walls and no top2. Right-click on the build plate - -- **Ready to slice**: Import into your slicer and adjust settings for your printer3. Select "Add Primitive" - -4. Select "Cylinder" - -### Creating from Scratch in Bambu Studio - -**Step 2: Resize the Cylinder** - -**Step 1: Add Primitive**1. Click to resize the cylinder - -2. Uncheck "uniform scale" if checked - -1. Open Bambu Studio to a new project3. Set X and Y to 25mm - -2. Right-click on the build plate4. Set Z to 50mm - +1. Open Bambu Studio to a new project +2. Right-click on the build plate 3. Select "Add Primitive" +4. Select "Cube" -4. Select "Cube"### Alternative Methods - -- **Fusion 360**: Create cylinder sketch, extrude to 50mm height - -**Step 2: Resize the Cube**- **Tinkercad**: Use cylinder shape, adjust dimensions - -- **FreeCAD**: Create cylinder with specified dimensions - -1. Click to resize the cube- **Any CAD Software**: Simple cylinder 25mm diameter x 50mm height - -2. Set X to 25mm and Y and Z should also set to 25mm - -## Awards & Recognition +**Step 2: Resize the Cube** +1. Click to resize the cube +2. Set X, Y, and Z to 25mm ### Alternative Methods +- **Fusion 360**: Create square sketch (25mm x 25mm), extrude to 25mm height +- **Tinkercad**: Use cube shape, adjust dimensions to 25mm x 25mm x 25mm +- **FreeCAD**: Create cube with specified dimensions +- **Any CAD Software**: Simple cube 25mm x 25mm x 25mm + +## Awards & Recognition ### Awards -- **Fusion 360**: Create square sketch (25mm x 25mm), extrude to 25mm height- **PCTG Division Winner**: Recognition + prize - -- **Tinkercad**: Use cube shape, adjust dimensions to 25mm x 25mm x 25mm- **PLA Division Winner**: Recognition + prize - -- **FreeCAD**: Create cube with specified dimensions- **Overall "Glass Master" Winner**: Grand prize + recognition - -- **Any CAD Software**: Simple cube 25mm x 25mm x 25mm- **People's Choice Award**: Community favorite - -- **Innovation Award**: Most creative clarity technique - -## Awards & Recognition - -### Documentation - -### Awards- Winner photos for social media sharing - -- Video documentation of winning techniques - -- **Smoothest Surface Winner**: Best layer-line elimination straight off the printer- Settings and process sharing for community learning +- **Smoothest Surface Winner**: Best layer-line elimination straight off the printer - **People's Choice Award**: Community favorite ### Documentation