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***THIS FILE IS NO LONGER INCLUDED FREE WITH SUBSCRIPTION.It can be purchased once re-released according to this Schedule.Hi everyone!

This month is the one year anniversary of my start on this 3D design adventure!  To mark the occasion, this month's models follow the theme of my very first design, the Axolotl! Starting with this new Patreon Exclusive, Axolotl Redux!

This axolotl features a cute new exclusive face sculpt and fun articulated gills!  The design of the head and gills allows it to print directly on the bed, without the large pre-support (it just has a small one now for the ball joint).  I also went through the body and improved it in several areas that should increase ease-of-printability, surface quality, and strength (details below*).  The Bonus Fridge Magnets are posted as well, and also feature the articulated gills.

This month's upcoming public release is also following the Axolotl theme!  Without giving anything away, I thought it would be really fun to do a more elaborately customized Axolotl as an "Anniversary Edition" of sorts.  I'm really excited about how it's coming together, and cant wait to share it!  Stay tuned for that release very soon!

Cheers!Matt

*Updates to the Body: The tail has been revised with wider bottoms for more solid bed contact, and an entirely redesigned pre-support for more stability.  All the limb joints have been strengthened.  The bed contact surfaces have been adjusted to have slightly larger areas of adhesion.  Overhangs have been updated to get cleaner surfaces on the undersides of the body, and the neck socket has been replaced with the newer version for easier head attachment. These body updates will be rolled out to the other Axo variants as well.

Pictured model printed in...Polymaker Matte Rainbow***Magnet printed in... Polymaker Teal/Yellow Dual extrusion***

*Click Here to go to the Pinned "the Hub - Info and Current Download Links" post*

3D PRINTING SETTINGS - Axolotl Redux

Head: Snap-Fit to Body.  Pre-Supported for easy printing.  No additional support needed.

Body_preSupportAndBrim (recommended): Print-In-Place.  Pre-Supported for easy printing.  No additional support needed.

Body_customBrims: includes custom brims, but no tail presupport.

Body_NoBrimsOrSupports: Just the body, generate print aids if needed and how you see fit.

10-15% Infill.

3 Walls.

Due to the very small joints in the gills, this axolotl may be more limited in how small it will print successfully. It has been test printed as low as 70-75% with full articulation. YMMV

3D PRINTING SETTINGS - Magnets- 0.16mm layer height- 3 walls with a 0.4mm nozzle (could do 2 walls with a larger nozzle.)- 10% Lightning infill (lightning infill is great for these because it keeps the weight down and only creates infill where needed. Keeping the weight down helps the magnets be more effective.)- 5-6 bottom layers (gives a little extra strength to the magnet attachment area.)- If your printer struggles with bridging, you may need to add support inside the magnet slot.  Give it a try without and see how it goes.*While it may be possible to safely drop the magnets in without pausing the print, if you are using a faster printer or printing many magnets at once... it would be best to add a pause to your print.  I suggest pausing close to the layer where the magnet slot is nearly done, but not covered.  This is fairly easy to do in most cases, but be aware that some printers do not support this option via gcode, and must be paused manually.  Please research your printer and slicer if you are unsure how to do this.  To add a pause to prints in Cura, follow this Guide.  To add a pause to prints in Bambu Studio and Prusa Slicer, follow this Guide.*NOTE, be cautious when using steel nozzles, the magnets may want to grab hold of them.  I did not find this to be a problem when using a magnetic bed surface in tandem with the steel nozzle.*Click Here to go to the Pinned "the Hub - Info and Current Download Links" post****As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Files

Comments

krista romero

How exciting!! Love it! Thank you!

Noel Brooks

Love it. I have a print almost done. So this is going on next.

Pigeon Print Shop

Yay! I pulled the other model from my etsy because I did not like the support area. Looking forward to readding

stephen parker

this is great it will be on the printer next just a question have you already rolled the updated body out to the older versions will i be able to re download my purchased one and get the new version of the body? also will the new version also have the new snap in head joint ? either way i think you work is great and my kids are going to love this new version

matmire_makes

I’ll be updating them today. The only caveat to that is if you need to redownload them from MyMiniFactory, the updates will likely not be validated for download until tomorrow. But you can just use this body with older heads. They will fit perfectly!

ADHD Laser Focused LLC

What a cutie!!! Normally I'm bummed for a failed print but I just pulled a plate off to clean it as the first layer was funky and now I can print this guy instead 😎

Kelly H

They are adorable! Happy anniversary!

Debbie Lowe

I didnt know i could love the axolotl more but there you go!!

Pretzel Prints (edited)

Comment edits

2026-09-20 02:00 Congratulations! I remember when I first saw you, a year ago, and knew you'd be something special! I am so glad to see you thriving. This design is super cute. Now I have to start printing fast... I have a show tomorrow!
2023-06-15 21:17

Jazzy_Plz

Absolutely fantastic, couldn't have asked for a better exclusive!

Robert Mullen

*screaming* this is soo cute thank you

LovelyLenny Lizard

Love love love this!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!! Oh I’m so excited for this month. Yay!!!!!!!!!

REN

Okay this is really cool! I need my printers to hurry up now!! 😂

Kayla

Love the face! Gonna print it soon!

Sparkss

Thanks for this! I am excitable about the printability improvements and can't wait to try it out.

Memories Of Violet

I am so excited for this and I already have one going!

Francis Pelland

You've outdone yourself with this one! Printability is amazing. I've just finished my 10th one. They all look and move beautifully.

matmire_makes

10 already!!? Wow! Glad to hear they are working well!!

Francis Pelland

I'll share some pictures in the morning. I've done several variations. As much as I love the big smile version, I may actually like this one a bit more :)

carrie roehrig

Awesome! Ran one on each om my p1ps. They are adorable.

iAmarice

Are we going to get the big smile one in this fashion?

Adam Brownstein

Awesome.....can we use the new body (for the better tail support) with the old head? Is the scale constant?

matmire_makes

Yup! I’m actually updating the older ones with this same body. They will work interchangeably.

Melissa Hardy

This is amazing!! I didn’t know I could love the axolotl more, and yet somehow I do!!

Craft3d

Will you be updating the other gecko models as well? I only ask because I have been having some problems with the arms/elbows warping and I am not quite sure how to go about fixing the issue with my printer.

matmire_makes

Warping or curling sound more like a setup/calibration effect. If you want to email me some pics of what you’re seeing, I might be able to help. matmire.makes@gmail.com

David Gorst

Had an issue with the gills and ball joint on head fusing and unable to release without breaking, 0.2 layer height, 3 walls 0.86mm walls with 10% grid infill. Any suggestions?

matmire_makes

Is that at 100% scale? What size nozzle? 3 walls with a 0.4mm nozzle should be 1.2mm walls. Can you email me pics, printer/slicer details, and maybe even a gcode file? matmire.makes@gmail.com

Michelle Knuth

This is by far the best upgrade ever!! It prints beautifully!! Any chance for the Big Smile version? (my favorite) :)

Kieran

It's awesome however the presupported Version, the supports Füße to the tail, just broke the tail off teying to remove the support

matmire_makes

That's not good. My gut says that might be a flow issue. Would you be able to send me some pics, and maybe save out your slicer project file so I can see if there's a setting that might be causing it (also, let me know which slicer so that I can open it in the right one)? matmire.makes@gmail.com

Kieran

it could very well be, it's a new printer after all but I thought I had the flow dialled in correctly though I'll do further test prints and see if what I can see, it's likely user error, since every other model of yours has been perfect. I'll get you the pics when I get back from work!

Cassie

I also had a similar issue where the supports pulled off the first layer of the last two tail notches. Printed perfectly otherwise.

Rachel Tybor

Any tips or videos on removing the tail support? Love the model & thanks so much!

matmire_makes

It should pretty much open up to the sides. You may need to use snips on the very first layer. There are small contact points to help anchor the tail to the supports. Here is an instagram video where I remove the supports... https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtkAMFJIc8S Did you have difficulty with yours?

Rachel Tybor

I was able to remove them with pliers - so in love with this one! Thanks again ❤️

Jason Mooney

I can't wait for the Big Smile version of the Axolotl. I brought these to market last weekend, printed at 70% scale. They sold like hot cakes. I was able to sell some larger axolotls because they wanted the big smile. :)

Kayla

I love this! Since I'm only slightly crazy and I only have my huge 3d printer up, and my tiny 3d printer up, I totally scaled it down to 60%. I can get full articulation with the gills, and the only issue I'm having is the torso is separating from the body, since I made it for my son I just fused that part and he loves it anyway. Printing a full size one on my large printer (cr-10 s5) right now and it looks good so far.

Andy Milner

Are the pink ones in the photos painted on the gills and any tips on how to paint those?

matmire_makes

They are painted. I used an airbrush, but you could get decently similar results by dry-brushing or sponge painting them. Basically, put paint on a brush or sponge. Then blot most of the paint off onto a paper towel or something, until all the paintbrush leaves behind is a faint tint. Then brush the now-dry bristles onto the gills. It'll leave a softer tint of color on them rather than a wet stroke of paint. Then you just continue to build up the color that way.

ClearMindDesigns

Hello, love your work. I have a question, are we able to use your photos when we are selling printed versions of your prints? Is that allowed?

matmire_makes

Sorry, no. I reserve my image usage for myself.

ClearMindDesigns

Understood, thank you for the quick response.

David Long

Printed this little guy last night on the Bambu X1c in Ludicrous mode as a test. The detail was still super fine and i did not see any difference in it from a previous print. Original print was estimated at 7 hours, with ludicrous mode engaged it finished a little shy of 5 hrs.

Eugenio Mendoza

Hi if I barely just joined the patreon, how do I get access to that version of the axolotl?

matmire_makes

Hi, unfortunately this one is no longer available and is vaulted until December. Then it will be available for purchase.

Wadecbr

Is there a way to get this model at the moment or will there be soon?

LuckySpoon

I had a customer request for one of these in the same 178% size I did for "big smile" one. Has anyone done this? My worry is the joints in the head.

matmire_makes

It should work just as well. The gill joints should upscale great.

Jssflores88

HI is there an Bambu MF version of this by chance

matmire_makes

Sorry, there isn't one for this file as of now.

MateoLRey

Will this fit on the a1 mini?

Nikolay

Will it be avalible in the future?

matmire_makes

It's available now for paid-tier members to purchase.

Nikolay

In my country I can't member because can't pay. We haven't international payment system, so sad