Odin’s Table – 5 Tips for Designing Viking-Inspired Coasters for 3D Printing
Odin’s Table is a set of six Viking-themed coasters designed for multi-color 3D printing. In this post, I’ll walk you through five tips I learned while creating them in Autodesk Fusion and preparing them for both single-color and multi-color 3D printers.
🔗 The full video tutorial is linked at the end of this post, along with download links for the files.
1. Use a Master File with Insert Derive
Start by creating a base file in Fusion that holds the core geometry shared across all six coasters. Then use Insert > Derive to pull that geometry into each individual design.
This approach allows you to make global changes from one file—massive time-saver when working with a collection.
2. Design for Both Multi-Color and Single-Color Printing
Make your design flexible enough to print on a multi-color printer like a Bambu or Prusa XL and on a single-extruder machine.
Use varying heights to trigger filament changes and split details into separate bodies. This way, users can do manual filament swaps or take advantage of automated multi-material workflows.
3. Name Your Bodies
It might feel tedious at first, but naming your bodies in Fusion pays off down the line. You can rename multiple bodies at once, and having clear names makes slicing, exporting, and troubleshooting way easier.
4. Export for Both Printer Types
Export 3MF files for users with multi-color printers—these files retain color assignments and body names.
Also provide STL files for single-extruder users. STLs give more control for manual slicing and filament swaps. Offering both formats makes your design more accessible to a wider audience.
5. Avoid Tiny Details and Always Test Slice
Very thin surface details might look great in Fusion but fail to appear on your 3D printer.
Keep logos, text, and patterns bold and readable. If you’re unsure, do a quick test slice while designing. It’s far easier to tweak the design before you hit “print” on a long job.
Want to Print Odin’s Table?
You’ll find the STL and 3MF files linked in the video description on YouTube.
If you’re thinking about making your own design tutorials, I highly recommend using Camtasia—the screen recording and editing software I use myself. It’s a great tool for leveling up your presentation skills. Check out my affiliate link below if you want to give it a try.
Chapters:
00:15 Tip one - about master filers
01:07 Tip two - about multi color and single color printing
01:35 Tip Three - about bodies
01:56 Tip four - about exporting options
02:22 Tip five - about details
02:43 Get the STL Files
02:53 Recommendation from The Maker Letters
Disclaimer:
This is a personal project created independently. I’m not sponsored by Autodesk, Prusa, Bambu Lab, TechSmith Camtasia or any other brand mentioned. Some links may be affiliate links, which help support my work at no extra cost to you.