Wildcard Week: 3D Printing on Fabric

For Wildcard Week, I experimented with 3D printing directly onto fabric using a Bambu Lab 3D printer. This technique combines rigid and flexible materials, opening up possibilities for wearable tech, artistic applications, and soft enclosures.

Material and Tools Used

  • Fabric: Velvet-like textile (soft and slightly textured)
  • Filament: PLA, 1.75 mm
  • Printer: Bambu Lab X1 Carbon

Process

  1. Designed a flat geometric pattern in Fusion 360 and exported it as an STL file.
  2. Used Bambu Studio to slice the model with standard PLA settings.
  3. Started the print and paused the job after the first few layers (around 1 mm height).
  4. Secured the velvet-like fabric on the print bed using heat-resistant tape, ensuring it was flat and smooth.
  5. Resumed the print, allowing the nozzle to fuse the remaining layers onto the fabric.

Results and Observations

  • The PLA adhered well to the velvet-like surface due to the fabric’s slight fuzziness and grip.
  • Precision was important—wrinkles or loose fabric led to nozzle collisions or uneven prints.
  • The outcome was a clean blend of rigid and soft materials, ideal for creative or wearable projects.

Applications

  • Wearable designs (e.g., logos or decorative panels)
  • Textile-integrated enclosures or pouches
  • Soft robotics or artistic textile works

Reflection

Printing on velvet-like fabric using the Bambu Lab printer was a unique process that challenged standard workflows. It was a great exercise in timing and material compatibility. Next, I’d like to try this with TPU or conductive filament for functional textiles.