MKM Benchmark #3- 3D MODELING

This 3D-printed statue was created using a pre-existing model rather than one I designed myself. I intentionally chose an intricate sculpt because I wanted to work with a form that felt closer to a real decorative object I would want to keep in my home, rather than a simple test print. I printed the piece using my own pearlescent PLA filament, which added a soft sheen and helped emphasize the sculptural details, making it feel more like a traditional statue than a lightweight print.

I used Ultimaker Cura to slice the model and generate supports, and printed the statue on a MakerBot Replicator Plus. At approximately six inches tall, the statue pushed close to the size limit of the machine’s build volume, which required careful placement and support decisions. Because of the level of detail and the narrow base, I determined with help from an employee at the ASU Makerspace that tree supports were the best option for stabilizing the print and preventing it from tipping during printing, especially since I chose to print the statue densely so it would feel solid and substantial.

The most difficult part of the process was not slicing or printing, but removing the supports afterward. The tree supports wrapped around the figure like vines or ivy, creeping over her surface and into every fold and crevice. Removing them took close to an hour. It required several different sizes of pliers and a lot of patience, as I carefully worked to avoid damaging the surface. Despite how challenging this step was, I was surprised by how successful the final result turned out. The supports came off cleanly, the details remained intact, and the statue retained its elegance and structure. Overall, this print pushed me to work more carefully and confidently with complex forms, and it left me genuinely proud of both the process and the final object.