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A maker is using Google Gemini to help design 3D-printable parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop with his son. Gemini generated OpenSCAD code that the maker could adjust, but its image and design outputs also missed instructions, and the prop remains unfinished.
A maker is using Google Gemini to help design 3D-printable parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop he is building with his son, according to a first-person report published by ToolGuyd. Gemini produced adjustable OpenSCAD code for components including a pair of connected truncated cones, but the project is still in progress and the maker says the AI also made design errors.
The project began after the maker’s son chose a Fallout 4-themed costume. A full DIY power-armor suit was judged too ambitious for the time available, so the pair settled on a more manageable character and prop concept. A low-cost motorcycle chest protector ordered online was delayed and apparently lost, prompting the maker to consider foam and craft materials for the costume while focusing on a distinctive handheld prop.
The maker first used Gemini to explore parts that were difficult to picture clearly enough to model from scratch. In one example, he wanted a truncated cone with a mounting ring. After several rounds of prompting, Gemini provided OpenSCAD code representing the part as two connected truncated cones. The maker could change parameters in the code to adjust its geometry and dimensions, and printed an initial version that he described as sufficient to guide the next design step.
That test print was made with very wet filament, which the maker said he was drying. He plans to enlarge the next revision and add mounting holes so the component can attach to a wooden box. The box, potentially about the size of a tissue box, is intended to hold separately designed parts. He is also printing a low-density version of a handle and has changed parameters in AI-generated code, including the number of mounting-plate holes and the dimensions of slots in vertical columns.
Where AI Fits in the Build
The report describes AI being used as a design aid rather than an automatic finished-product maker. Gemini generated editable code that the maker used to produce a physical test piece and assess the design before further printing. The maker also used the output to consider how separate components might fit together.
The account documents limitations in the workflow. The maker said Gemini ignored instructions about keeping side arms flush and placing pill-shaped holes only on a main face. It also added large chamfers he did not want. In a separate attempt to break a fantasy-style tool into printable subassemblies, the response did not provide a useful breakdown, though the maker had already considered using pins to join parts with glue.
The project involved human review, iteration and physical testing. The maker adjusted code, assessed test prints and is considering switching to Fusion or similar modeling software for more direct control over dimensions and their dependencies. The report does not establish whether this approach is faster or more effective for makers generally; it documents one ongoing project and its creator’s experience.
beginner 3D printer for cosplay props
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From Costume Idea to Test Prints
The maker’s son wanted a costume connected to Fallout 4, but a complete homemade suit of power armor was outside the available time. The alternative was a less elaborate character with a decorated chest piece and scavenged-looking accessories. The maker says a black Milwaukee hard hat could serve as headgear, with a cheap flashlight attached using duct tape. The prop is meant to provide a more prominent crafted element than the costume itself.
Before using AI, the maker had experience modeling objects he had already worked out in his head, but said unfamiliar designs were harder to plan. He described the particular challenge as moving from a mental picture to a model and then to parts that can actually be made and assembled. A single part is easier for him than a collection of components that need to fit together.
Some green printed parts shown in the project are non-pressurizable air fittings based on 3D files from McMaster-Carr. The maker used them to visualize how fittings might connect to quarter-inch-inner-diameter air hoses and to avoid ordering too many types of barbed fittings. They are being used for planning, not described as working pressurized components.
“The AI made a lot of mistakes, and I’m also learning how to better constrain dimensions in my prompts.”
— The maker, in the ToolGuyd report
The Prop Is Still Unfinished
The maker has not yet completed the prop or confirmed that the printed components fit the final assembly. The next versions may change in size or shape, and he may remodel some or all of the parts in Fusion or comparable software. The current plan is to attach individual components to a small wooden box, potentially using screws, hot glue or epoxy, but the final construction method has not been settled.
It is also unclear whether the maker will finish a refined version by Halloween. He says time is limited and expects to build a rough first version before making further refinements. Gemini’s suggested subassembly breakdown was not useful to him, and he has not settled on the prop’s final appearance, function or name. The article reports no completed build, final performance test or cost comparison.
A Rough Version Before Halloween
The maker’s stated next step is to build a rough first version from the printed parts and a wooden box, then decide what needs to change. He is printing a low-density handle and plans to test a larger cone component with mounting holes. If the design works, he may print it in a final color, probably black.
For some parts, he may instead use Fusion or similar software to make changes more directly and coordinate dimensions across an assembly. The maker says that a full redesign is unlikely for this project because of the deadline, but could be useful for future builds. The prop is intended to be assembled with his son, who will choose what to call it. The maker has suggested a synth, ghoul or mutant detector, though no final concept has been chosen.
Key Questions
What is the maker building?
He and his son are making a Fallout-inspired Halloween costume and prop. A full power-armor suit was considered too ambitious, so the plan is a simpler costume with a handmade device as a standout accessory.
How did Gemini help with the design?
Gemini generated OpenSCAD code for printable parts, including a shape made from two connected truncated cones. The maker adjusted code parameters and used test prints to assess the design.
Did the AI produce a finished design without errors?
No. The maker said Gemini missed instructions about flush arms and hole placement and added unwanted chamfers. He also found its proposed breakdown of another tool into subassemblies unhelpful.
Is the prop finished?
No. The maker is printing and testing early components and plans to assemble a rough version on a wooden box. The final design and whether it will be refined before Halloween remain uncertain.
Source: rss
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