Published: Thu 11 September 2025
By Adam
In Craft .
tags: FreeCAD 3dprinting resin
When I started 3D printing several years ago, I was worried that I would just
fill my house with plastic toys. I quickly set about starting to learn
FreeCAD so I could design printable parts when I
needed. I've used my rudimentary skill to make replacement parts for around the
house, cases for electronics projects and occasionally hobby bits.
One point of pride has been printing my own bases for my miniatures. While I did
start by creating circular bases to match all of Games Workshop's "standard"
base sizes, I soon wanted bases for my 3D printed Battletech proxies. In much
the same way as I created my circular bases, I used calipers to match the
measurements of my Catalyst models and
layed them out in FreeCAD.
I learned from a previous project that I could have multiple bodies in a single
file. This allowed me to copy the first, basic base I'd created and paste a new
body to modify. First I made a new version with a reinforced peg hole for
Aerospace models.
Tonight I find myself needing bases with recesses to accept 6mm infantry models.
I'll be building three platoons of basic infantry for my Republic of the
Sphere Standing Guard, and
in looking for suitable models, I found this really interesting project called
Canadian Trees .
(I don't know why they're called Canadian Trees). Each column holds I think
between 25 and thirty models, each column holding different variants. I found I
could put 15 columns on a built plate, so I did. That gives me somewhere between
350 and 400 individual soldiers. I'm set for life.
To add these additial base variants took less time than it will have taken to
write this post. Like my Aerospace base, I was able to make a copy of the basic,
original body. I placed on the surface a single, 5mm diameter by 1mm deep
recess, constrained it to a corner, then used a Polar Array to layout copies of
the recess. As the input to the polar array is a number of units, I could simply
create the first, then with each duplicate change that parameter. I was done
very quickly.
Now I will export these each as a separate .STL file, and slice them for my
printer. I find I can print six bases at a time on my small built plate. With an
infantry platoon consisting of four squads of six, I'll be able to print all my
necessary bases in two batches. Painting 6mm models is so fast and satisfying,
these little soldiers will be supporting a strengthened company in no time.