26 Pointed Star!

Wow, that's a lot of points. If you want to support my projects, check out and share my completely unrelated, yet still cool, Working Lego R2-D2 YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/MyL3G0 - I make a few pennies off the ads.

I LEFT THIS AS WORK-IN-PROGRESS not because it's incomplete, but rather 'cause it's a tad finicky. Test a point first to see if it needs scaled and stuff.

Options

There are two main options, either the 18 pointed star without the small points, or add the extra 8 small points for an 18 pointed star.

A) Print either the normal "center" ball for 26 points, or the "only big points" ball for 18 points.
B) Print it with a mount to fit on a tree, or a point to hang from the ceiling.

IMPORTANT Notes on Scale

The model is "supposed" to fit at 100%, however strangeness of the drooping filament might make that tricky as not all of the point mounts are the same size at the same angles. I had to trim a little drooping bits, and have to glue the points on. I suggest printing the center first at 100.5% and then one of each point as a test fit. I used 100% for the big points and 99% for the little points.

Printing Settings

What worked for me, preview everything to make sure it's behaving. Print the hub and one each big (& little for 26 point star) points, then test the fit before printing the rest of the points.

A) Print either the 26 or 18 point center at 100.5% scaling, no rafts or supports, I used 10% infill, .2mm layer height.

• A couple of the support bits are tricky to remove.
• I included a version without supports. It'll be a bit droopy, but seemed close enough.
  B) Print 17 big points at 100%, no rafts or supports needed, 2 shells, 10% infill, .2mm layer height.
• I tested using makerware's slicer, may not work for everyone, please preview. The object is hollow with a double wall to keep the thin walls.
• Try one point first and see if you want to scale them up/down on your center. My center's bottom holes are "tighter" than the top holes, which meant more filing/exacto kife work.
  C) For the 26 point star, also print 8 of the small triangular points at 99% scale, no rafts or supports, 2 shells, 10% infill, .2mm layer height
• Try one point first and see if you want to scale them up/down on your center.
  D) Print either the Mount or a Hanging point. Mount fits the same as a big point, so use that scale (100%).

Assembly

You can fill the points part way with tinsel or confetti or whatnot, or nothing, and glue them to the center hub. The hub has a hollow square, so be sure to put that end down if you fill it with stuff, it should either be the center mount or the hanging point should be opposite of that hollow. Looks cool with a flashlight in the bottom, if you figure out how to light it, let me know!

Remixed From

Reconstructed from makerbot's star, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:599887. I made several changes.
A) Added additional points on the triangular faces, as if 18 points isn't enough
B) Make the points have holes in the end so confetti or whatever can be added after the fact.
C) Made the center hollow to use less plastic and in case you want to put LEDs or electronics or whatnot in it.
D) Attempted notches for snap fit, but that doesn't really work.

Please support my projects

If you want to support my projects, check out and share my completely unrelated, yet still cool, Working Lego R2-D2 YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/MyL3G0 - I make a few pennies off the ads.

Copyright 2015, Shawn Steele - Shared under Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/