In the past, my foldable designs explored a different side of 3D printing - instead of only thinking about rigid materials, I focused on flexibility and used elastic properties to create new structural ideas. Over time, those folding designs found their place and became something of their own category.

So I started looking for a new direction. This time, I pushed things further by fully embracing extremely soft materials.

That’s how the Squeaker Duck was born. 

This project came with two major challenges.

1. Printing very soft material in a controlled shape
Soft materials are tricky. Because they’re flexible, they can get dragged by the nozzle during printing or curl as they cool. To solve this, I designed an internal structure that helps the form hold its shape during the printing process.

However, that same structure made the duck harder to squeeze - which is a big problem for something that’s supposed to make a squeaking sound when pressed.

In the end, I developed a form that stays stable during printing but becomes very easy to deform once the print is finished.

2. Designing an effective squeaker
I had made squeaker mechanisms before, but they required a large airflow and were very small, which made them difficult to print unless you had a highly precise 3D printer.

So I redesigned the squeaker to

Produce sound with a much smaller airflow
Be large enough to print reliably, even on less specialized printers

Printing Guidelines
To successfully print the Squeaker Duck, please keep the following in mind:

1. Use TPU 95A filament.
64D is not soft enough and may not compress well. If you use other flexible filaments, make sure they are truly soft and elastic.

2. Check your slicer settings for flexible filament.
Incorrect settings can lead to poor print quality. While settings vary by brand, key factors are:
Very slow print speeds
Nozzle temperatures around 220 - 230

3. Be careful when printing the squeaker reed.
The reed is very thin and may not print well on textured beds. When removing it from the bed, take care not to bend or warp it, as this can affect the sound quality.

4. Pay attention to the reed’s orientation during assembly.
Insert it carefully in the correct direction, and use a tool to gently push it fully into place.

For more detailed instructions, please check the video guide.

I hope this new challenge in my 3D printing journey brings a fresh wave of creative exploration!

Largest part in printing, size = X 63mm, Y 84mm, Z 102mm, After full assembly size = X 63mm, Y 91mm, Z 102mm

Total Build Time : 15h / Plastic Weight : 40g

Beak

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