How to Design and 3D Print Leaf Coasters in Fusion
If you’ve ever wanted to design your own 3D-printed coasters, this walkthrough will guide you through the process—from modeling in Fusion to slicing in PrusaSlicer. We’ll move through the key steps in the design timeline, and if you’d like to see everything in action, the full tutorial is shown at the end of this post.
If you want to print these designs yourself, you can grab the files here:
✨ Etsy 🧶https://bythemakerletters.etsy.com/listing/4343945813
📐 Cults3D 🖤 https://cults3d.com/en/users/TheMakerLetters/3d-models
💳 Gumroad 🚀 https://themakerletters.gumroad.com/l/CoasterSet
Setting Up Your First Coaster
Start by creating a new component in Fusion. Clear component names are important, especially if you plan to sell your files on marketplaces like Etsy or Cults3D. Staying organized from the beginning makes editing and exporting much easier later on.
For the base sketch, I began with a 100 mm circle drawn as a construction line. Since construction geometry doesn’t become part of the final design, this circle works as a guide and ensures consistent coaster size across irregular leaf shapes.
Designing the Leaf Pattern
The leaf sketch came from a ChatGPT-generated prompt, which I imported as an SVG using Fusion’s Insert menu. Once it was in place, I used the extrude tool with different heights to add depth. This setup makes the design work for multi-color printing, and even if you’re limited to a single-extruder printer, you can achieve color changes through manual filament swaps at specific layers.
To keep the workflow smooth, I also gave each body a clear name, which helps a lot when exporting to 3MF files for multi-color setups.
Building the Collection
Repeating this workflow for each leaf coaster keeps the project consistent. By creating every coaster in its own component, the project stays parametric and flexible for future edits. It also gives you easy export options, since each component can be sent to the slicer individually.
Exporting for 3D Printing
When ready, export your coaster as an STL or 3MF file. Both formats work fine, though 3MF files handle multi-color workflows better. Fusion’s default export presets are solid choices in most cases.
Slicing in PrusaSlicer
In PrusaSlicer, head to File → Import STL. The built-in presets are a great starting point, and you can tweak details like layer height and infill as needed.
One particularly handy feature is the Preview bar—it lets you simulate the 3D print and insert filament swaps for single-extruder printers. Your printer will then pause automatically at the right layer, giving you time to change filament. Remember that layer height affects how flexible this process is, so plan your swaps accordingly.
Once the file looks good, slice it again and export your G-code.
Final Thoughts
This was a quicker timeline review compared to my usual deep-dive tutorials, but the coasters came out great. If you’d like to see the full tutorial, scroll down to the end of this post where I’ve embedded the complete video walkthrough.
Thanks for following along, and I hope to see you in the next project!
Chapters:
00:20 Create a new Fusion component
00:33 Sell your STL Files on ETSY
00:49 Why i Use construction lines
01:05 Create designs with Chat GPT
01:18 Extrude with different heights
01:38 About naming bodies
02:06 Export as STL or 3MF
02:28 Prusa Slicer Settings
02:48 Add manual filament changes in the prusa slicer
03:40 Project outcome
03:50 Affiliate links in the video description
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only. Always verify your own 3D printer settings, materials, and safety procedures before starting a print. Results may vary depending on your equipment, slicer configuration, and experience level.
This video and article are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Autodesk or Prusa Research. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners.