
With the recent controversy over the beloved #3DBenchy, I wondered whether people truly know the capabilities of the little boat 3D model.
The 3D model has captivated the 3D print world for a decade since its introduction. Back in 2015, there were few benchmark objects, and as the “first mover”, #3DBenchy was widely adopted. It also didn’t hurt that it is rather cute.
Today, we see the 3D model included in the stock prints of many desktop 3D printers, and it’s often the very first print to come off most machines.
But do you truly know what it’s about? It’s not just a fun little boat. It has been very carefully designed to include a series of benchmarking features that you probably have never heard of.
In fact, #3DBenchy has a website of its own detailing all the interesting features, and there are quite a few. According to the website:
“#3DBenchy is designed to offer a large array of challenging geometrical features for 3D printers and touch on different issues related to additive manufacturing.
The 3D model is designed to print at 1:1 scale without support materials. It is challenging for most 3D printers, but the small volume (15.55 cm3) typically prints in well under two hours and does not require much material.
The different surfaces of the #3DBenchy model reveal typical issues regarding surface finish, model accuracy, warping, etc.”
Some of the geometric features of the model for testing include: symmetry, high resolution, planar horizontal faces, tiny surface details, cylindrical shapes, overhangs, low-slope surfaces, large horizontal holes, small horizontal holes, slanted small holes, first layer details, and more.
You may not be aware that the dimensions of #3DBenchy features are all very carefully designed. The idea is that you can print the model and then measure the features to ensure your 3D printer accurately reproduces the 3D model.

For example, here we see that the smokestack on the boat has three different measurements that can be taken for calibration. In fact, there are no less than 23 different measurements that can be taken.
Here’s another #3DBenchy secret: did you know that two of them, if printed properly, will snap together like this?

These are the reasons why the #3DBenchy became popular in the first place. Over the years, knowledge of these details seems to have faded, particularly among those new to 3D printing.
The very specific measurements also explain the recent controversy over the model, where some sites are taking down derivative 3D models. The reason for this is that the original designers of the #3DBenchy specifically chose a “no derivatives” license to ensure that these measurements and features remained the same forever. If they were to be tweaked and changed, then it’s no longer a benchmark object.
Unfortunately, due to some complaints, at least one site located in the EU has been taking down derivatives for fear of violation of the original license. The problem here is that the original license was intended to protect the “benchmark-ness” of the object, and not the artistic value of the object, which is what the derivatives are doing.
Meanwhile, today we have dozens of other more advanced benchmarks that more specifically address tuning needs in ways the original #3DBenchy does not. It’s not all about dimensions. For example, the popular temperature tower 3D model attempts to tune the heat levels for specific materials. That’s not easy to do with a #3DBenchy.
In my mind, the #3DBenchy has now been relegated to more of an artistic object rather than a practical benchmark object as it was originally intended.
Via 3DBenchy