SANTA'S SHOP MOTORIZED DIORAMA (Patreon)

UPDATE 2024-10-18: Information regarding the LEDs added at the bottom of the post.

UPDATE 2024-10-25: Better wiring instructions added!

Hello my dear friends!

Here it is finally! Santa's workshop presented in a magnificent motorized diorama!

You can't imagine how I had a hard time with this one!!! Being quite large, making it printable on a mini was more than a challenge! Also being able to print it without supports was quite an achievement!

But in the end, I simply love it! Really a lot!

There's a lot to say about this one, so let's cut the emotions short and get to the description right away! You will probably want to copy/paste this post to keep this information with you.

MAIN FEATURES:

-Prints without supports

-Can be used with battery operated tealights or mini LEDs. You will find more detail in the wiring  instructions. To give you an idea, the second and the third pictures are with both type of light. The type of light is written on the photo.

-Prints on any printer with a minimum bed of 180x180mm.

-All parts are placed in the correct position for printing.

-Easy printing

-When a part has two colors in its name, a color change is required.

-3mf Bambulab file included for the parts AND for the landscapes around the base.

-I have changed the type of screws i am using. I am now using self-tapping screws, much better for plastics and much easier to put in place. You have their description below.

FOR THE LANDSCAPE IMAGES AROUND THE BASE:

You guessed it, these are obviously made with Hueforge. However, they are very easy to print. There is a file that gives you the parameters in the folder, but I will give them to you here.

To print the images you must adjust these settings:

-Layer height; 0.08mm

-Height of the first layer; 0.16mm

-Infill: 100% rectilinear infill.

You start with dark blue, and you change as follows:

-Start with Dark blue

-Layer 10;  Change for medium blue.

-Layer 13;  Change for pale blue.

-Layer 21; Change to white.

The colors used are:

-Dark Blue: Polyterra Army Blue

-Medium blue: Polyterra Muted blue

-Pale blue: 3DPrintingCanada baby blue

-White: Polyterra Cotton White.

FOR THE MINI OWNERS: 

The long image in front of the base is too long for your printer! So i made a special file for mini users, in which the long decorative strip is splitted in two parts. You will find them in the folder dedicated to the hueforge elements.

FOR ENDER AND OTHER 220x220 PRINTERS :

You can print the long decorative strip on your printer. But you will need to rotate it by 45 degrees to make it fit on your bed.

BAMBULAB OWNERS: 

3mf files are included as usual. For the project, and for the decorative strips around the base. Remember: The color changes are already set BY LAYERS (not with the paint tool). So you need to slice the plate to see the color change in the preview.

FOR THE ROOF: 

The name of the file is calling for a white color change. It is only for the ring at the top of the roof. Refer to the pictures if you want to have a closer look.

FOR THE SNOWMEN AND THE GIFTS:

The components are in two separate folder to make them easier to find.

For the snowmen, the eyes and the buttons are made with a piece of black filament inserted into the holes and cut flush to the surface.

THE COMPONENTS YOU WILL NEED: 

-3mm x 10mm self-tapping screws (35x) (IMPORTANT NOTE :In the instructions, it is mentionned 3mm x 8mm, but 10mm is better!)

https://a.co/d/0Iqpybr

-Neodymium magnets 8mm x 3mm (6x)

https://a.co/d/1uznWzo

-15x28x7mm ball bearings (2x)

https://a.co/d/4pK8FvN

-A BambuLab motor

https://ca.store.bambulab.com/collections/makers-supply/products/tt-motor-dc5v-59rpm-ccw-single-axis

-A speed controller

https://a.co/d/fxZNOGZ

-A battery holder

https://a.co/d/7ML3wjf

-REGARDING THE LEDs;

Like i have mentionned before, i am not a specialist of LEDs and the best way to mount them. I am giving you below the parts that i used and how i used them, but there's probably a better way to do it, especially if you wanna sell this print. But for me, it works perfectly.

I have used those pre-wired LEDs:

https://a.co/d/6AjUAUX

They are pre-wired and easy to use. To mount them, i bought those LED holders, but they are made for LEDs that are not already wired. So the rubber/plastic grommet that comes with the holders were useless. Also, there a small resistor on the wire on the LEDs. But you can still push the LED in the holder until the round end of the LED is flush with the tip of the holder.

https://a.co/d/cfIaw47

After the holder is installed in the holes of the 3d printed part, i put the nut to secure it. To hold the LEDs in the holder forever, i use a bit of hot glue where the wire enters the holder. Then i finalize the wiring to the power supply.

Because this is a two story diorama, i had to use some extra wire to plug the LEDs to the power pack. Like many of you, i hate (read: I am terrible at) soldering. So to prevent any soldering, i have use solder seal wire connectors. Which can be installed super easily with a heatgun.

Wire:

https://a.co/d/gXuFRiu

Solder seal wire connectors:

https://a.co/d/38qJjWa

Again, all of this is for reference. You can buy smaller quantities, different products or brands depending where you live. Its just to give you a good idea of what you are looking for.

So this is it my friend! I hope you like it as much as i do!!!

Have fun my friends! I will be back soon another design!

Have a nice day!

Pascal