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Table of Contents
Getting Started: Local Group
Your local group likely has processes written down somewhere or will send you instructions on a chat platform. There's no way to catalog every local group's processes (and that would defeat the purpose of decentralization), so you'll need to get that from your contact.
If your group would like to re-host this wiki and modify it to fit your specific needs PLEASE DO!!
Below you'll find some helpful resources on designs, testing, and shipping.
Known-Good Whistle Designs
For anyone that just wants to get started, we have a list of “good whistles” that Whistle Crew has printed:
- Specific Helpful Models
If you are using someone else's design, please show respect to the makers of whistle models by attributing their work, boosting their models, and (if you are able) providing tips and/or subscribing. 3D designers help make our whistles possible. Specific whistle models are owned and licensed by their original creators. Please respect creator licenses on their respective model pages.
Customizing Your Whistles
Testing Whistles
A “good whistle”
- is loud enough to be heard for several streets in an urban environment (> 90db or louder—some phones will test decibel level)
- will not require you to blow very hard to make a sound
- will continue to make sound if you blow into them really, really hard.
If your whistles don't do all three things, check the “Printing Whistles” section here in the wiki for troubleshooting tips. You can also talk to others in your group before mass producing.
We suggest that you print a single whistle as a test before loading a whole plate of them.
Printing Whistles
The page below will help you get started if you are new to 3D printing. Intro to Printing for Whistle Producers
3D Printer Pages by Brand
Optimizing Your Whistle Production
- Optimal Bridging Angles - Avoid lengthy bridging on whistles by tuning settings.
Troubleshooting
Need help printing good whistles?
- Many whistles on the “good whistle” list have various print profiles for the major printer brands which have been stress-tested by volunteers. It is often easier to use someone else’s optimized print profile than troubleshoot from scratch.
- Most of us have had good luck with Silk PLA over other filament, but experience varies.
- Sometimes a whistle starts going bad due to printer mishaps. We have found that it helps to merge items (in most slicers, by CTRL-clicking multiple whistles, or CMD-click on Mac) so you have less than 64 items on a plate. This allows you to skip the whistle that is going bad and not produce more spaghetti.
- Your group likely has a lot of experienced whistle printers. Don't be afraid to reach out and explain what you’re doing and what’s not working. Please be sure to include info like what kind of printer & filament you’re using.