I'm working on a mass quantity print for someone and seeing the magnets contest I decided to go the extra mile and make something extra special for the client. The idea was to let the printed (lightweight) model I designed for her float in the air in a stylish holder.

The model is attracted magnetically to the arm of the base but hold back by a thin fishing line which make it appear to float mid-air.

It's kind of funny that now the spider instead of hanging on his silk wire, appears to defy gravity and rise from his silk wire upwards.

The holder was created first and since I still had magnets of Ø8x5 and Ø5x5, these were used. Ø8x5 in the holder and Ø5x5 for use inside the model. For a model to test I decided to use one of my favorite models (my first ever print), the "Black House Spider - Flat print" for this. Partly to see if the weight would not be too great before I would use/adapted the model from the client.

To adapt the spider I scaled in Z to 80% and added a negative volume of 5x5x5 for the magnet. Also added 2 negative volumes of 1x1x10 in a slight angle to create a cut-out to attach the fishing line. Paused just before closing the space for the magnet, pushed in the magnet and then finished printing, thus hiding the magnet inside the spider. I have added the project file for this. Its also a way to add any model (if it is lightweight) to the base.

Due to the testing results I asume the weigth of the spider (3,37 gram) and the weight of the magnet Ø5x5 combined with the attraction forces with the used Ø8x5 magnet is about the max. for levitation in this configuration. The only way to know if more weight is possible is to test it yourself.

The base and the arm I printed simulatiously with 2x color change. The last color change I added the magnet. I used olive (army) green and bronze PLA to print.

The arm is mounted in the base without using glue (it is tapered shaped). The legs of the spider are deformed using hot water. Attached a thin fishing line to the spider. Pull the fishingline thru the hole in the base. I used tape on the bottom to secure the fishing line there (it is easy to adjust if needed).

Because I did none modification on the "Black House Spider - Flat print" it can not be seen as remix. It is only used as an example with the use of negative volumes in the slicer. For the STL in the project I used the simplyfied version which I used in my remix "Frighteningly Realistic Looking Spider Knob" .

Update 23-04: I have completed the project for the client. The result of the floating model (Crane) has been added as a photo. And in case you were wondering where the spider has gone: it has been given a new life in the kitchen.

Added the project file for the frame parts. Don't forget to put in the magnet at the second color change!