5 Fusion Tips for Designing Multi-Color Viking Coasters for 3D Printing
Updated September 19, 2026
Odin’s Table is a set of six Viking-inspired coasters designed for both multi-color and single-color 3D printing. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to structure the project in Autodesk Fusion (formerly Fusion 360), keep all six designs linked to one master file, and prepare clean exports for different types of printers.
What You’ll Learn
- How to manage a six-coaster collection with a master Fusion file and Insert Derive
- How to design raised details for automatic or manual color changes
- Why separate, clearly named bodies make multi-color slicing easier
- When to export 3MF files and when to provide STL files
- How test slicing reveals details that are too small to print reliably
Watch the Workflow — or Read It Step by Step
You can follow this guide in two ways:
- Read the steps below if you want quick written instructions, reference images, and modeling notes.
- Watch the full video at the end of this post to see the workflow in real time — including extra tips, camera angles, and shortcuts that don’t fit neatly into text.
Both formats build on each other.
Reading helps you understand why each step matters, while watching shows how to move faster in Fusion.
Step 1: Build a Master Coaster File with Insert Derive
Begin by creating a base coaster in its own Fusion design file. This master file should contain the geometry shared by every coaster in the collection: the overall footprint, thickness, edge treatment, and any other feature that should remain consistent across all six designs.
The shared master file contains the core coaster geometry: a circular 100 mm base with a shallow raised rim. This common foundation controls the dimensions and overall profile used throughout the six-piece set.
Keeping the reusable geometry in one Fusion design prevents small dimensional differences between coasters. Changes to the diameter, thickness, or edge profile can be made in the master model rather than repeated manually in every design.
Next, create a separate file for each Viking-inspired variation. In every individual coaster file, use Insert > Insert Derive to bring in the shared base geometry from the master file. Add the unique symbol, pattern, or decorative details only after the derived base has been inserted.
The Insert Derive command brings the master coaster geometry into the main Odin’s Table design. Unlike copying a body, deriving the geometry maintains a reference to the original Fusion file.
When the master base is updated, those changes can be propagated to the derived designs. This is particularly useful for a product family where every coaster must retain the same diameter, rim, and base thickness.
This creates a simple parent-and-child structure:
- The master file controls the common coaster geometry.
- Each individual file contains one derived copy of that geometry.
- The individual files add their own Viking-inspired artwork and printable details.
The major advantage appears when you need to change the entire set. If a prototype reveals that the base needs to be thicker, the edge needs a different fillet, or the diameter needs adjustment, edit the master file once. You can then update the derived reference in each of the six coaster files instead of rebuilding the same feature six times.
All six coaster designs reference the same underlying master file through Fusion’s Insert Derive workflow. When the master geometry is changed, Fusion identifies that newer linked data is available in the individual coaster designs.
Updating the derived link propagates the revised base geometry across the collection. This allows shared features—such as the coaster diameter, thickness, and outer rim—to be changed once instead of edited separately in all six models.
Why this matters for 3D printing
A coaster set should feel consistent when placed together. Using one source for the shared geometry prevents small differences in thickness or edge shape from appearing between models. It also makes print testing more efficient: once the common base prints reliably, you can concentrate on validating the unique surface details.
The video script does not specify dimensions for the coaster base, so choose them according to the intended cups, material, nozzle size, and required stiffness. The important design rule is to define those shared dimensions in the master file rather than independently in every coaster.
Step 2: Design for Both Multi-Color and Single-Color Printing
Plan the artwork so the same coaster can be printed on a multi-material machine or on a conventional single-extruder printer. The key techniques are to use different feature heights for color changes and to keep details as separate bodies.
On a multi-color printer such as a Bambu Lab machine or Prusa XL, the slicer can assign a different filament to each body. The base may use one color while the Viking symbol or border uses another. Because the bodies remain separate, the slicer can recognize and manage them without requiring you to paint every face manually.
For a single-extruder printer, raised details can begin at a deliberate layer height. The user can pause the print or add a filament-change command before the decorative layers begin. This produces a contrasting surface without requiring an automatic material system.
Design raised details for reliable printing
Decorative geometry that looks sharp in Fusion may not survive slicing. Keep each line, gap, and symbol wide enough to be represented by the selected nozzle and extrusion width. A very thin feature can disappear completely, while a narrow isolated detail may print weakly or detach.
Also consider how many layers form the raised artwork. A detail that is only one very thin layer high may be visually inconsistent, especially if the first contrasting layer has small gaps. Giving the feature enough printable height makes the color change more distinct and the artwork more durable.
Keep the underside flat and place the detailed face upward when possible. This orientation gives the coaster a stable contact area on the build plate, avoids support material on the visible face, and lets raised graphics print as ordinary stacked layers rather than steep overhangs.
No exact feature heights, wall thicknesses, nozzle settings, or layer heights were given in the source workflow. Confirm these values by slicing with the actual printer profile and nozzle that will be used.
Step 3: Name Every Body in Fusion
Name all bodies before exporting the finished coaster. Although this takes extra time during modeling, it makes the project far easier to understand when the design moves from Fusion into a slicer.
Use names that describe either the part’s function or its intended color. For example:
Coaster BaseViking SymbolOuter BorderAccent Details
If several bodies serve the same purpose, select multiple bodies in the Fusion browser and rename them in bulk. This is faster than renaming every small decorative body individually.
The sword motif is divided into multiple solid bodies, visible as individually selected entries in the Fusion Browser. The design contains 23 bodies at this stage, allowing different parts of the artwork to be assigned separate colors.
Separate bodies provide more control when preparing a model for multicolor 3D printing. They also make it possible to combine selected details for a simplified single-color version while preserving the original geometry.
Why body names matter downstream
Clear names reduce the chance of assigning the wrong filament in the slicer. They are especially valuable when a design contains several small bodies that look similar in the object list. Instead of clicking through generic entries such as Body12 and Body13, you can immediately identify the base, symbol, border, and accents.
Good naming also helps when you return to the model months later or create another coaster in the series. The browser becomes a readable description of the design rather than a history of unnamed geometry.
Before export, confirm that every visible decorative element belongs to the intended body or body group. Accidentally joining a colored symbol to the base can remove the separation needed for filament assignment.
Step 4: Export 3MF and STL Versions
Provide both 3MF and STL versions so the design works across a wider range of slicers and printer setups.
Use 3MF for multi-color printing
Export a 3MF file when the coaster contains multiple bodies intended for separate filament assignments. Compared with STL, 3MF can preserve a more complete project structure, including separate parts and useful object names. When the file is opened in a compatible slicer, the user can assign colors or materials to the imported bodies.
After importing the 3MF file, verify that all parts occupy the correct position and form one assembled coaster. Then assign the required filament to each named part before slicing.
The selected coaster is prepared for export through Fusion’s Save as Mesh dialog, with 3MF chosen as the output format. The other available formats include binary STL, ASCII STL, and OBJ.
A 3MF file can retain multiple bodies and additional model information that STL does not support. This makes it the more practical format when the coaster’s artwork needs to remain separated for multicolor slicing.
Use STL for single-extruder printing
Export an STL version for users who want a conventional single-color workflow or who plan to create a manual filament change at a specific layer. STL is broadly supported, simple to import, and suitable when the model can be handled as a single printable mesh.
For a raised two-color design, slice the STL and inspect the layer where the decorative details begin. Add a pause or filament change at that transition using the slicer’s own controls. Because layer numbering and height depend on the chosen profile, confirm the change point in Preview rather than assuming a fixed layer number.
Offering both formats makes the files more universal. Multi-color printer owners receive an organized multi-body model, while single-extruder users are not excluded from printing the same design.
The same model can also be exported as STL (Binary) from the Save as Mesh dialog. Binary STL stores the triangulated surface in a smaller file than ASCII STL while preserving the same printable geometry.
STL is suitable when the coaster is exported as a single merged model or prepared for a conventional single-color printer. Because STL does not retain color or body information, multicolor parts normally need to be exported separately or transferred using 3MF.
Step 5: Avoid Tiny Details and Run a Test Slice
Before committing to a long print, slice every coaster and examine the toolpaths closely. Small text, narrow runes, pointed corners, and thin logo elements can look complete in CAD but vanish or merge in the slicer.
PrusaSlicer accepts the exported model through File → Import → Import STL/3MF/STEP/OBJ/AMF. The shared import command supports both a conventional STL and a multipart 3MF workflow.
After importing, confirm that the coaster retains its intended 100 mm diameter and that all artwork bodies align correctly. Incorrect units or separately moved parts can produce a model that looks correct in Fusion but is unusable in the slicer.
Use the slicer preview to check:
- Whether every intended line produces an extrusion path
- Whether separate details merge into an unreadable shape
- Whether small islands begin cleanly and remain connected
- Whether the color transition occurs at the intended height
- Whether the top surfaces close properly
- Whether any feature creates an unnecessary overhang or requires support
If a detail disappears, return to Fusion and increase its width, spacing, or height. Simplifying the artwork is often better than relying on an unusually fine print profile. A robust symbol will work for more users, more nozzle sizes, and more materials.
Run a short test print when the slicer preview cannot answer everything. You may not need to print the entire set: one coaster containing the smallest details can act as a worst-case test. This is far cheaper than discovering a problem after starting a 12-hour print.
Once the design passes the slice check, verify both export packages. Open the 3MF version as a multi-body object and the STL version as a single-extruder print. This final check helps ensure users receive files that behave as intended.
The sliced coaster measures 100 × 100 × 4.5 mm and contains 86,686 facets. PrusaSlicer estimates approximately 1 hour 57 minutes of printing and 23.87 g of filament for the visible configuration.
The profile uses 0.20 mm Quality, Generic PLA, 15% infill, and no supports on an Original Prusa i3 MK3S profile. The layer preview confirms that the raised Viking artwork, circular border, and base are generated as printable toolpaths before the G-code is exported.
Key Takeaways
- Use one master Fusion file to control the geometry shared by all six coasters.
- Insert the base with Insert Derive so later changes can flow into every design.
- Separate colors into individual bodies and use height changes to support manual filament swaps.
- Name bodies clearly before export to simplify material assignment in the slicer.
- Supply 3MF files for structured multi-color workflows and STL files for broad single-extruder compatibility.
- Test slice small text, logos, and decorative details before starting a long print.
- Design around printable toolpaths, not just the appearance of the CAD model.
🧰 Tools & Deals
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You Might Also Like
If you enjoyed designing the Odin’s Table coaster collection, these related projects explore additional ways to turn patterns, linked geometry, and printable details into practical Fusion models.
Together, these tutorials extend the coaster workflow into AI-generated SVG patterns, parametric product design, repeated features, printable clearances, and STL preparation for practical 3D-printing projects.
⏱ Chapters
- 00:15 – The Master File Hack That Saves Hours in Fusion
- 01:07 – Print in Multi-Color or Single-Color
- 01:35 – Why Naming Bodies Matters for Your 3D Prints
- 01:56 – The Smart Way to Export STL and 3MF for Any Printer
- 02:22 – Avoid This Common Detail Mistake in 3D Printing
- 02:43 – Download the 3D Print Files Here
- 02:53 – Tools and Tips I Recommend for Designers