Alright, so I wanted to make something cool for my desk, and I thought, “Why not a TNT bucket?” You know, from those block-building games everyone’s crazy about. I’ve been getting into this whole 3D printing thing, and figured this was a perfect little project to try out.
First, I needed a model. I found a bunch of them on those sites with a lot of 3D printing files. I just searched for “tnt bucket” and a lot of options showed up, but I picked one that looked good and didn’t seem too complicated. I downloaded the STL file – that’s the format for these 3D models.
Then, I opened up my slicer program. This is the software that takes your 3D model and chops it up into layers that the printer can understand. I imported the TNT bucket STL file and started messing with the settings. I made sure the scale was right – didn’t want a giant bucket or a tiny one. Played around with the infill settings, that determines how solid the inside of the print is. More infill means a stronger print but takes longer and uses more filament. I went with a decent infill because I wanted it to feel solid.
Printing Time!
After that, I got my 3D printer ready. I use one of those FDM printers, the kind that melts plastic filament and builds stuff layer by layer. I loaded up some red filament for the main part of the bucket and some white for the “TNT” letters and the rim. I leveled the bed, checked the nozzle, all that good stuff. You gotta make sure everything’s right, or your print can turn into a stringy mess.
I hit print and watched the magic happen. It’s always mesmerizing to see the printer slowly build up the object from nothing. The red base came out first, layer by layer, then the white parts started to appear. It took a few hours, but hey, good things take time, right?
Finishing Touches
Once the print was done, I carefully removed it from the print bed. There were a few little stringy bits, which is normal, so I used a small knife and some sandpaper to clean those up. Gotta be careful not to damage the print, but you also want it to look nice and smooth.
And that’s it! Now I have this cool little TNT bucket sitting on my desk. It’s not perfect, there are a few imperfections here and there, but I made it myself, and that’s what matters. It is a good feeling, you know? Plus, it’s a great conversation starter. People come over and they’re like, “Whoa, is that a TNT bucket?” And I get to tell them all about how I 3D printed it.
- Find a model: Searched online for “tnt bucket stl” and downloaded a file.
- Slice it up: Used a slicer program to prepare the model for printing, adjusting scale and infill.
- Get the printer ready: Loaded red and white filament, leveled the bed, and checked the nozzle.
- Print it out: Watched the printer create the bucket layer by layer.
- Clean it up: Removed the print and cleaned up any stringy bits with a knife and sandpaper.
It was a fun little project, and I learned a bit more about 3D printing along the way. Maybe next time I’ll try something even more complicated. A creeper head, perhaps? We’ll see!
