The humble Benchy has become a rite of passage for many new 3D printer owners, even though benchmarking modern 3D printers isn’t strictly necessary.But let’s say you’ve assembled a small armada of these toy boats, and now you’re wondering what to do with them.Here are some ideas.
Benchy Shipping Co board game Or use Benchy in other board games Benchy Shipping Co is a “whimsical yet strategic” board game for two to four players, with each player requiring 30 Benchy pieces.Though it feels like a solution to the problem of having too many toy boats, for many it will require more Benchy models than you’ve probably accrued.It will also need to be obvious which Benchy pieces belong to which player.
Since your boats are probably different colors and filaments, you could use a system of stickers or something similar to achieve this.Once you’ve printed the board game with its 20 port city destinations, you’ll need to roll a dice to collect boats and then place these boats onto the map to form a shipping route.The game is inspired by other route-building games, but you could also turn your Benchy into a player piece for other board games like pawns in chess or Monopoly pieces.
If you need a dice, you could create a press and recycle your old PLA.Keyrings Benchy is keyring-ready Did you know that the hole at the bow of a Benchy (that’s boat lingo for front) has a hole that perfectly accommodates a keyring? I didn’t until I tried it, but it works surprisingly well for keys that mostly remain in the same static location (since Benchy makes for quite a large keyring).Did I scratch the hull a bit putting the keyring on? Sure.
But you’re probably more careful than me.Practice sanding Make your Benchy silky smooth Did you know you can sand your 3D printed models? Doing so is a great way to reduce the visibility of layer lines, and Benchy is a particularly good model on which to practice given its focus on unsightly stepped top layers and potential for ghosting on the hull.Practicing on an item like this before you commit sandpaper to filament on a “real” print gives you a chance to make mistakes and get comfortable.
The general consensus on sanding 3D prints is to start with a moderately coarse grit (around 80) and then move on to fine grits (120) through to very fine (220) to get a smooth finish.Just be careful that you wear a mask and avoid sanding filaments that contain carbon fiber.Experiment with priming and painting Not just paint but technique 3D printers are a popular way to produce figurines, models, and miniatures.
PLA also happens to be very paint-friendly, but for best results you should use a primer first.A popular choice is spray-on automotive primer, which can also help fill and hide layer lines.Once you’ve primed, you should be good to paint with cheap acrylics (including sprays) or fancier model paints.
Experiment with techniques to get your models looking exactly how you want, especially if building a miniature army is one of your main reasons for owning a printer.If you’re terrible at painting miniatures (like I am), this is a great opportunity to try things out and follow community paint guides for achieving specific looks (like weathered and battle-worn tabletop units).When you’re done, you’ll have a much more interesting Benchy to sit on your desk.
Turn them into a Mecha Benchy What do you call six Benchys in a trench coat? It’s not exactly practical, and it’ll cost you another 36g of filament (which is like, one Benchy), but the combined robot Benchy is a pretty fun idea.It uses the “existing holes, protrusions, and recesses of the Benchy bodies” to bring everything together in the form of one big robot.Deals Save on Maker & Creator deals: printers, filaments, tools Discover discounts on Maker & Creator essentials - 3D printing supplies, filaments, finishing kits, sandpaper, primers, paints, respirators, and accessory hardware - all geared to help you finish, customize, or repurpose prints.
Browse deals in Maker & Creator.Deals Explore Maker & Creator Deals If all you’re doing is leaving your toy boats on the desk, or littering the space directly next to your 3D printer, this is a much more fun way to collect dust.Benchy is a standard print and so all the parts fit (with tight tolerances, according to the uploader).
That said, your mileage may vary depending on print settings and filament, so a thin layer of tape can help close the gap if things aren’t as snug as you’d like.Give them to kids At least someone will appreciate the boat Kids love plastic tat; just look at how popular articulated 3D printed dragon slop is.While the Benchy doesn’t actually float, it might still make a decent distraction for a child.
You’ve already created some waste plastic; someone might as well get some enjoyment out of it! Just be aware that the chimney on the top of your Benchy could pose a choking hazard for very young children if it breaks off.Given the gray area that is PLA safety, you might want to avoid giving it to anyone who might put it anywhere near their mouth too.Bambu Lab P2S Build Volume 256x256x256mm Printing Speed 600mm/s The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes.
It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament.$549 at Bambu Lab $549 at bhphotovideo $550 at Micro Center Expand Collapse Bambu Lab AMS 2 Pro A multi-material system for Bambu Lab printers with active air vent 65°C filament drying, air-tight filament storage, a brushless servo feeding motor, Bambu's signature RFID filament sync, and compatibility with up to up 24-color/material printing by connecting more AMS 2 Pro units.$359 at Bambu Lab Expand Collapse Bambu Lab PLA Basic Filament Bambu Lab's PLA Basic filament comes in a wide range of colors and ships on a reusable plastic spool.
With embedded RFID chips in each spool, you simply place the filament in the AMS and your 3D printer knows exactly what it's working with—down to the color.$23 at Bambu Lab $23 at Best Buy Expand Collapse Next time you buy a new printer, skip the Benchy and print one of these instead.
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