I've wondered for a while about integrating some of my more interesting-looking filaments into segmented pen blank designs, and decided to try it this week. This is a piece of king cocobolo with some 0.8mm thick scallops printed out of faux metallic gold silk PLA. I have the same filament available in copper, silver, mother-of-pearl, and gunmetal.
Overall, despite my sloppy glue-up, I think this proof of concept worked. Playing with the orientation of layer lines could yield some interesting results. I want to try going a bit thicker, as from some viewing angles the gold kinda disappears into the dark-ish epoxy glue line.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that turning this piece of wood revealed quite astonishing color variation in the grain. Everything from purple to brown to black to orange in there.
Overall, despite my sloppy glue-up, I think this proof of concept worked. Playing with the orientation of layer lines could yield some interesting results. I want to try going a bit thicker, as from some viewing angles the gold kinda disappears into the dark-ish epoxy glue line.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that turning this piece of wood revealed quite astonishing color variation in the grain. Everything from purple to brown to black to orange in there.