Since people wanted to see how it turned out. This is a 330x330 object that covers the entire purported print area of my machine.
I’m ashamed to admit that I undershot my filament usage calculation slightly, and I chickened out just before the finish line. I didn’t have any more white in stock, so I switched to some grey of the same type from the same manufacturer by doing a mid-air refuel, shoving the end of the new spool in chasing behind the very tail of the old one. I don’t think it looks too bad. I may just spraypaint the entire thing white later anyhow. I wanted to use a light color in order to more easily spot and keep track of screws and springs and such.
If you’re a “regular sized adult” I honestly think you can get away with 30% adaptive cubic, and 5-6 walls and top/bottom layers.
That’s pushes it to 2.4kg filament and a +2 days print though with a regular 0.4mm nozzle and 0.3mm layer height.
Sounds plausible to me. On reflection, I think I’d just run off a wooden box on my table saw if I need a cube to sit on.
My problem, as I’m sure many others have, is admitting when 3D printing something probably isn’t the best solution…
Yeah I agree, 3d printing is not the right tool for a simple large box.
There are many good applications for FDM printed items. But I still have a metal lathe, mill, drill press, and welders for all the other times that FDM is a poor choice.