TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
A maker is using Google Gemini to help design and 3D-print parts for a Fallout-inspired Halloween prop with his son. Gemini generated editable OpenSCAD code, but its outputs required repeated prompting and manual changes; the project remains a work in progress.
A maker is using Google Gemini to help design and prototype a 3D-printed prop for his son’s Fallout-inspired Halloween costume, turning an initial idea into editable OpenSCAD code and test prints. The project is unfinished, but the maker says AI has helped with design steps he finds difficult, while its errors and limits still require hands-on correction.
In a report published by ToolGuyd, the maker said his son wanted a costume connected to the video game Fallout 4. A full DIY power-armor costume was not practical within their available time, so they shifted toward a more improvised wasteland-wanderer look, with a helmet and a custom prop intended to stand out. A delayed motorcycle chest protector also led the maker to consider foam and craft materials for the costume’s body components.
For one prop component, the maker wanted a truncated cone with a mounting ring. After several iterations, Gemini provided OpenSCAD code for a design made from two connected truncated cones. The maker said the code allowed him to adjust parameters and dimensions, and that a test print was usable for moving to the next stage. He plans to enlarge a later version and add holes so it can be fastened to a wooden box that will serve as the prop’s main structure.
The maker also used AI while considering a more complex tool-like prop. Gemini’s suggested breakdown into printable subassemblies was not very useful to him, though he said it supported his earlier idea of using mounting pins for glued assembly. He has made changes directly to generated code, including altering holes and slots, and is printing a low-density version of another component. The tool and costume have not yet reached a finished form.
AI Helps Bridge Idea and Prototype
The project offers a practical example of how a hobbyist is applying generative AI to a specific maker task: moving from a partly imagined object to geometry that can be adjusted and printed. Rather than asking the tool to deliver a finished product, the maker used code as a starting point, then reviewed its shape, changed parameters and tested the result physically.
That workflow may matter to other makers who can model familiar parts but struggle to plan unfamiliar shapes or connected assemblies. In this account, AI helped reduce some of that initial design friction. It did not remove the need for the maker’s judgment, modeling knowledge or iteration. The generated parts had mistakes, and the assembly still involves decisions about screws, glue, wood and how separate components will fit together.
The report is a single person’s account, not a controlled evaluation of Gemini or a comparison of AI design tools. Its value is in showing both sides of an emerging use: code generation can help a project advance, but checking dimensions and testing prints remain central to making a usable object.
Popular right now
KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS, Onyx Black
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation, Mic, USB‑C Charging, Deep Bass, 24‑Hour Battery – White Smok
Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew, Black, CM371
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Costume Plan to Printed Parts
The maker initially considered building a more elaborate Fallout power-armor costume, but said the schedule made that unrealistic. The revised plan is to create a rough first version of a prop with his son, using a small wooden box as a base and attaching individually designed components. The son wants exterior wires; the maker is considering ways to add them and has floated the idea of a fictional detector, leaving its final identity open.
The maker has used 3D modeling before, but described new shapes and multi-part assemblies as harder to plan than individual components. He said a conventional 3D program such as Fusion could offer better control over relationships between dimensions, and he may remodel some parts there. For the immediate project, however, he expects to rely on a simpler combination of printed pieces, hardware and adhesive because time is limited.
The report also mentions green air-fitting parts printed from McMaster-Carr 3D files. These were used to visualize how fittings and quarter-inch inner-diameter air hoses might fit into the assembly, rather than as evidence of a finished functional system. The maker said this helped him think about the parts before deciding what fittings to buy.
“The AI made a lot of mistakes, and I’m also learning how to better constrain dimensions in my prompts.”
— The maker, in a ToolGuyd report
The Final Prop Is Still Unsettled
The report does not establish whether the prop will be completed by Halloween or whether the current test prints will fit the final assembly. The maker said he is aiming for a rough first version and hopes to refine it later, but gave no finished design, final parts list or confirmed completion date.
It is also unclear which components will ultimately be 3D-printed, how they will be attached, or whether the maker will switch to Fusion or another modeling program. Gemini’s proposed subassembly plan was described as not very helpful, and its output included details the maker did not want, such as misplaced openings and large chamfers. The account does not provide independent testing of the AI-generated code or a broader comparison with other services.
A Rough Version Comes First
The maker’s stated next step is to finish printing and testing a low-density prototype, then decide whether to print parts in their final color or revise the models. He expects to enlarge the cone component and add mounting holes for attachment to the wooden box. A handle is also being printed, though he said he may redesign it manually in a conventional 3D modeling program.
The plan is to assemble a functional-looking first version with the time available, potentially using screws, glue or other adhesives, and refine it later if time allows. The final appearance, name and Halloween readiness of the prop remain open.
Key Questions
What is the maker building?
He and his son are making a Fallout-inspired Halloween costume prop, with a rough wasteland-themed design rather than a full power-armor costume.
How did Gemini contribute?
Gemini generated OpenSCAD code for a component made from two connected truncated cones. The maker adjusted the code’s parameters and used test prints to assess the design.
Did the AI produce a finished design?
No. The maker reported errors and unwanted design features, and said the prop is still being planned and prototyped. He has manually changed code and may remodel some parts himself.
Will the prop be ready by Halloween?
That is not confirmed. The maker said he is working toward a rough first version and hopes to refine it, but the report does not give a completion date or confirm that the finished prop will be ready.
Source: rss
