Elephant Tessellation with Box

Elephants everywhere! Elephant Tessellation with Box is an original design shared exclusively on Cults. Custom box included along with models for single-color and multi-color printing.

I originally made this design when experimenting with paper to make tessellation templates with my kids.

Box Included with Download
The box holds 19 elephants. (My sets = 18 elephants + 1 looking the other way.) The lid may be printed plain with single extrusion (screenshot posted with photos) or include the elephant design for two, three, or four colors.

My Tessellation Collection

• Fish Tessellation with Box
• Turtle Tessellation with Box
• Elephant Tessellation with Box
• Evil Anchor Alien Tessellation with Box
• Gingerbread Tessellation with Box
• Heart Alien Tiny Tessellation with Box
• Alien Spaceship Container with Heart Alien Tiny Tessellation

3D Printing Suggestions

• Single Extrusion: Print the “Single” model for a nice one-color print.
• Single Extrusion with Filament Swap: Use “Single” model and the “Eye Inner” model together. Raise the Eye Inner up 2 mm (and probably best to change the z-scale to 50% for 1 mm thickness) and swap filament after 2mm to create raised inner eyes for the final 1 mm.
• Single Extrusion and Markers or 3D Pen: Print the single tile and use markers or a 3D pen to color and decorate. Great project for kids! Or print single tile using “Merge all outlines into a single solid model” option and draw your own eyes and more.
• Dual Extrusion: Use the “Single” model and the “Eye Outer” models together. The insides of the eyes are already included with the “Single” model. Markers or a 3D pen could also be used after the print for some extra fun and color.
• Palette/MMU Print: Use multi-color printing for elephants with two-color eyes. Elephant “Body” model along with the “Eye Outer” and “Eye Inner.”
• Duplication Mode: Print single-color elephants twice as fast.
• Print Orientation: I printed mine flipped over so the faces would have the smooth texture of the print bed surface.
• Eye Direction: These are designed with the eyes looking up to the right. To get the eyes pointing down to the left, group together the models for the inner and outer eyes and rotate them about the z-axis 180°. Or separate connected mesh surfaces and rotate one eye separately for a goofy look. For up-left or down-right, also flip the model.

Approximate Dimensions:
Elephant Tile: 75 x 74 x 2 mm
Box Bottom: 85 x 84 x 49 mm
Box Lid: 88 x 87 x 16 mm
Note: There is 0.6 mm perimeter gap between box and lid in the model. Also, the models for the tiles have 0.2 mm gap when put together.

I printed mine with 0.3 mm layer height and enough solid layers that they are essentially 100% infill. No raft. No supports.