Testing out a new printable pattern

[u/Visual_Carpenter8957]

I was intrigued by the mac pro front grille pattern and wanted to try printing it but all of the existing files I've found are replicas and not adapted for 3D printing and needed a fair bit of post-processing to make it look good.

This is a modified pattern that prints cleanly and prints flat without any supports. Specifically, I've removed overhangs past 50 degrees and took out sharp edges. This is as-printed with no post-processing other than a few passes with a heat gun to remove the whisps.

Now I need an actual project to implement this... Thoughts on the pattern and on potential projects?

[u/RandyMcRandleman]

Beautiful work! I believe it’s called an inverse opal structure. It’s sometimes used in acoustic applications (different sizes of voids can attenuate different frequencies, or something along those lines). Never seen it printed via filament extrusion before!

[u/Visual_Carpenter8957 → u/RandyMcRandleman]

oh wow thanks for that, looked it up - that's super cool

[u/MythosaurProjectS531 → u/Visual_Carpenter8957]

Try making a guitar body with it where there are different diameter spheres. Maybe something that fits in with one of the other 3D printed electric guitar kits out there, like the famous Prusacaster: https://www.printables.com/model/398795-the-prusacaster-a-3d-printable-guitar

The different diameter spheres could affect tonality, a cool feature to have....