How Fans Are Transforming Anime Shelves with Viral Jojo Light Rod 3D Prints
By Alexander Ross
Deciding between fused deposition modeling (FDM) and stereolithography (SLA) resin printers creates real trade-offs for collector displays. Both tools offer distinct structural advantages depending on the target aesthetic.
FDM printing excels at mechanical durability. Printing a solid figure riser in matte black PETG or PLA Tough at a 0.16mm layer height produces a dependable, vibration-resistant mount capable of supporting top-heavy characters like Silver Chariot. Filament prints also let makers hollow out internal wire conduits with zero risk of uncured liquid resin remaining trapped inside. For raw structural tasks, filament remains the most practical choice.
SLA resin printing, on the other hand, dominates detailed aesthetics. The signature menace of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure relies on dramatic katakana sound effects, most notably the rumbling "Gogogo" (ゴゴゴ) and "Dodon" (ドドン) glyphs. Printing these characters on an FDM machine produces noticeable layer lines that ruin optical clarity. In contrast, standard 8K resin setups cure razor-sharp 0.03mm layers in translucent clear or tinted purple resins.
When an internal LED fires up through a cured resin kanji panel, the light distributes smoothly through the character without catching on messy layer steps. For the ultimate setup, builders combine both technologies: a sturdy FDM black plinth for the structural base and wiring, topped with an SLA resin-cured sound-effect plate to catch and disperse the beam.
Alexander Ross has covered the video game industry for a decade, writing deep dives on game design, esports tournaments, VR developments, and gaming culture.
