Carving in Texture to 3D Prints

Sometimes we want to print organic shapes or add some texture. This is very easy to do with a hot carving tool or a soldering iron and will hide the layer lines. For this example, I added fur to a fox model but it would be easy to modify this technique to carve in a cloth texture too!

I originally found this idea from Make Anything on YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/pP9XZM7MhD4?feature=share

He recommended 400 C degrees but I found that 300 C degrees worked well and prevented any burning.

Thank you to GrimbiXcode for the fox model: https://www.printables.com/model/25178-low-poly-sitting-fox/files

Tools:

• Access to a 3D Printer
• A Soldering Iron or a Hot Carving Tool
• A tip that is dedicated to plastic (it will get covered with melted plastic)

Print a model that you would like to add texture to.

Heat the tool to 300 C. Use the edge of the tool to make quick small strokes for a fur texture. Move the tool in the direction that the fur would fall (think about the direction that you would pet a dog or cat). For thicker fur, go slower and use a little more pressure, this will make the fur look more fluffy.

You can use a flat side of the tool to reshape any area that you want but be careful not to melt through the outer shell. If you plan to do major changes print with a thicker outer layer.