document observations on printing settings

Signed-off-by: Brian S. Stephan <bss@incorporeal.org>

README.md

@@ -47,12 +47,8 @@ about when/how to use specific parts:
 ## Printing
 
 These items all fit on a 256mm^2 print bed; I use a Bambu Lab P1P based on what I've learned from the
-OpenStickCommunity. Standard settings seem sufficiently sturdy for my purposes, though the slicer has done a couple
+OpenStickCommunity. Standard settings seem sufficiently sturdy, but see `docs/materials-and-printing.md` for more
-weird things, in my experience.
+thoughts and settings based on my tinkering with prints.
-
-My preferred settings are 3 wall loops with 20% gyroid sparse infill. This gives the models a bit more weight and
-stability, but something like 2 wall loops, 15% grid sparse infill is fine and does not lead to a weak enclosure. The
-costs below have been made against my settings.
 
 ## Assembling
 
@@ -83,7 +79,7 @@ What you'll need beyond these objects:
 ## Rough Costs
 
 This is a rough estimate of the cost to produce one of these sticks, assuming a usual 2-frame design and layout.
-Filament masses from Bambu Studio estimates, using Bambu PLA Basic.
+Filament masses from Bambu Studio estimates, using Bambu PLA Basic, 20% gyroid infill and 3 wall loops.
 
 * Left and right frame: **$10.42 USD** (208.50g each, as of 2024-02-22)
 * Left and right (inset) top panels: **~$6.40 USD** (~128g each, as of 2024-02-22)

docs/materials.md

@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# Materials
-
-bss's random thoughts and notes on 3D printing materials.
-
-## Bambu Lab PLA
-
-### Basic
-
-* In general, nice texture, but under direct light, you can see a bit of the infill pattern through the walls. Not super
-  distracting, but it's there.
-
-#### White
-
-* Walls are practically translucent, you can almost always see the infill. Do not use for major components.
-* Looks perfectly good for thin things like the Neutrik plates, decorative pieces, that kind of thing.
-
-### Matte
-
-* I don't like the texture as much, but they do produce nice non-primary color colorways, and you don't see the infill.
-* Seems like their plastic treatment leaves some plate residue, so be better about cleaning it or you'll get ghosts.
-
-## Hatchbox PLA
-
-* **Blue:** very blue. Wife likes it.
-* **White:** more opaque than the Bambu PLA mentioned above, makes a pretty decent (still slightly translucent) frame.

docs/printing-and-materials.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Printing and Materials
+
+bss's random thoughts and notes on the actual printing of the Buildable Stick System.
+
+## Printing Settings
+
+My preferred settings are 3 wall loops with 20% gyroid sparse infill. This gives the models a bit more weight and
+strength against bowing forces, but something more default, like 2 wall loops, 15% grid sparse infill, is fine and does
+not lead to a weak enclosure.
+
+### Working With Flatness
+
+A lot of the pieces are long and flat, so I recommend really dialing in your printer settings. The frame pieces make
+corner curling of the frame less of a problem, but you may still get it on the panels and the beveled frame pieces.
+
+Another thing to consider, in my experience, is the bottom layer pattern. Monotonic prints fast but creates long,
+uniform lines that create reflection patterns on long, flat surfaces. This can be especially distracting for the top
+panels, since they're what you're looking at 90% of the time. Using a non-uniform pattern, like hilbert curve,
+eliminates this problem, but at the expense of a much longer print --- around an hour longer for an inset panel. Other
+patterns may improve beyond monotonic, but hilbert curve seems to be the gold standard.
+
+## Materials
+
+Some notes on PLA brands, usages, etc.
+
+### Bambu Lab PLA
+
+#### Basic
+
+* In general, nice texture, but under direct light, you can see a bit of the infill pattern through the walls. Not super
+  distracting, but it's there.
+
+##### White
+
+* Walls are practically translucent, you can almost always see the infill. 3 wall loops and a varying infill pattern
+  definitely help here.
+* Looks perfectly good for thin things like the Neutrik plates, decorative pieces, that kind of thing.
+
+#### Matte
+
+* I don't like the texture as much, but they do produce nice non-primary color colorways, and you don't see the infill.
+* Seems like their plastic treatment leaves some plate residue, so be better about cleaning it or you'll get ghosts.
+
+### Hatchbox PLA
+
+* **Blue:** very blue. Wife likes it.
+* **White:** more opaque than the Bambu PLA mentioned above, makes a pretty decent (still slightly translucent) frame.