Printing on fabric

[Bryan Eckert]

This is pretty cool, seen a bunch of different things this guy does. 

Will definitely have to try it. 

https://youtu.be/vJ8Gg0dPx0g?si=q9eXCRvh7kozG6vH

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

I was doing this kind of thing - on Tulle fabric - as far back as like 2016 or 2017. I have not looked at this video yet...

I will post a pic shortly of one of my experiments - as I got the printed part from my Storage unit a few days ago!

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Holy Cow - this guy is going to cover a LOT of Territory in this video. He's already shown these 2 skirts - one is really more of a Kilt. And then this cloth like "helmet" with Dragon type scales on it. Ironic - since my first experiment years ago was Quite the same - as I had designed these kind of 3D Scales. If I can find the original design - I may even post the STL file here for folks to play with...

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

I'd definitely give it a try if you posted an STL

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[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Yo Bryan - don't be such a Tool! But, that being said - do you actually have some Tulle that you can use for the project test??

I did a search - but, alas - I did it SO LONG Ago - I can NOT find my files. Still - it would be Super Easy to replicate what I did! 

So - here's the Short version of my project - and, Sorry in advance that a couple of the pics SUCK - VERY Low quality. All 3 pics were indeed from YEARS ago! Anyway - here goes...

Basically - Design work was SUPER Simple - especially as it was purely a test. I created these shapes. Each are separated - so that the cloth can flex. Deal is - you print like 2 or 3 layers - then simply put a Pause command in your print job. When I did it - it Lowered the build plate and move the printer head aside. Then I strapped down the Tulle cloth to the build plate - and hit Resume. So - here is the print job near the beginning:

Although that pic SUCKS - you can kinda see the Tulle was already layed down - and print continued. This was done on my WanHao Duplicator 6 - which I got from JetGuy. The build plate had a BuildTak sheet glued down - but, when it Failed - the Glue made a MESS of my build plate. So - once I started using Glass again - the glue you can still see on the build plate under the glass. Anyway...

I continued printing:

And, here's the print after I took it off the printer and layed it across back of my hand. This pic is better - and you can see the actual Tulle fabric in this pic:

Now - if you really want - I CAN Indeed replicate my design and create an STL file for you to try and play with. It's up to you. But, yeah - let me know - and I WILL indeed recreate the STL file for you - it would be EASY PEASY!

By the way, in the end - my point - what this guy is doing - some of it has been done MANY YEARS Ago. What I did - was based upon what Other folks were already doing WAY back then. Another funny aside. My original experiment - trying to print on cloth - printing a couple layers - then strapping down cloth - I tried a handkerchief. It was a Fail. But, it was also before I truly Understood how it must be done. Thus - the Tulle was the success. Downside of Tulle cloth??? It rips SUPER Easy - and I ruined part of the next experimental print!

Ciao for now...

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

Dude that's awesome!

Don't go through all that trouble. I had planned to make up some of my own patterns anyway. Will probably wait until the new year as I'm cranking out all kinds of ornaments and decorations for the holidays. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/6d1db5bb-262a-4cdc-9094-e4bd8eaf1367n%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Dude - I'm Thrilled to see your reply - glad you liked my Experiment and pics. 

And - Hell - I can Bang out that kind of design in like 15 min or less.  BUT - do NOT reply further - As now I WILL have to bang out the simple design - just for FUN! 

Also, now knowing full well difficulties of sharp tip printing - I will keep that in mind as I re-create the design!!!

I should share a story about printing sharp tips - in regards to Essentium - but, I will leave that discussion for another time...

-K

[3D Printing Tips and Tricks]

Yeah I remember that. It’s still a really cool idea.

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

Indeed. Thanks for the feedback Andy. This thread is going to give me the impetus to go back and explore the possibilities of printing on cloth - AND - even printing Chain Maile type outfits. I'd LOVE to actually do a Vest type of design - and then actually wear it to work!

-K

[Bryan Eckert]

Kurt printing that in a silk metallic would look killer!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/5581c099-696b-4f8e-a63b-a0c68df9d08bn%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt]

I Completely agree with you!!!

-K

[Kurt The 3D Printer GUY!!]

OK - as promised - it only took me 15 minutes. It's Not perfect - but, it will do for now. I also learned from my experiences over the years - since I last did this. So - spike does not end in a hard tip - and top edge is not a hard edge - but an edge with a width. It will make sense when you open the STL file. 

Also, FYI - in most slicers - like PS - you can subdivide the file into Objects or Parts. As such, in this way - you can take the smaller spikes and move them around to your own preferences - and even duplicate some of them - to make a bit of a different layout of shapes than what I created. 

So - STL is attached for you Bryan. This is ONLY for you Bryan - and NOBODY Else is Allowed to download and print this design! Only Bryan can!!! As it's a Limited Share License (LSL)!

OK - just joking. Darrell - feel free to also try this test - if you so design. 

Again - print 2 or 3 layers, then set the print to Pause - then strap down the Tulle Fabric - then continue the print job. It will currently easily fit within a 200mm print volume.

-K
P.S. Yeah - I SERIOUSLY Need to finish watching the video you posted Bryan - as I want to see ALL of what this guy was doing!!!

On Monday, December 1, 2025 at 9:11:01 AM UTC-5 Bryan Eckert wrote:

[Bryan Eckert]

Cool I have to get some fabric! Maybe I'll head to hobby lobby if the roads aren't crap over lunch. 

I've also seen people printing a single layer of PLA, covering it with parchment paper and using it as an iron on. Not sure how well that would hold up in a wash though.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/3d-printing-tips--tricks/e84e68cd-22fd-48f8-bd63-c738458e9f82n%40googlegroups.com.

[Kurt]

So - just a tad more feedback...

The problem with Tulle is that it's WAY TOO Delicate. My second test - as I tried to get the parts of the build plate - I ended up ripping up part of the tulle fabric. So - I had a number of times looked for an Alternate type of cloth - that would hold up better - but, still have big enough holes in it so that the process would still work. I actually DID get this strange type of fabric a while ago - but, never got around to testing it. I might have to find it - take a pic - and share the pic here - although, I think that fabric stuff may be way over there in my Studio space, which is like 25 min drive away -  Will see...

-K