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the 3D Benchy is everywhere. It is one of the top test prints if you look away from a simple cube.

But what makes the Benchy a good test print at all? It does have almost no critical dimensions that would be measurable to see if the printer is calibrated correctly!

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the 3D Benchy isn't a specific calibration test

With the Benchy you don't see if your printer is calibrated in any axis, but it is a general use-case test for a model that can show you many of the issues you might face in a normal print. For all intents and purposes, it is more a general Benchmark item than a specific calibration test like a cube, stringing test, or temperature tower, where you go through iterations of a profile to dial in settings and printer properties.

the 3D Benchy is a Benchmark for printer and settings

Most of the printing issues that can be seen on a Benchy are related to the print settings, though some are also related to the physical properties.

Overhangs

The bow of the Benchy has a shape that is very conducive to seeing how much the printer can handle overhangs due to proper cooling and settings.

The arches in the sides of the cabin, as well as the back window, have a rather challenging overhang pattern (the extension needs to be larger and larger), and the front of the Benchy has a short bridge, which shows if cooling is happening properly.

The upper edge of the hull also is a little overhang, which shows how well small oversteps can be printed.

Small Diameter

The funnel of the Benchy is of sufficient small crossection, that with bad settings it can result in printing layers upon one another too fast, which can result in bulging, misinformation, or totally blobing that area.

Sharp corners

The front and back corners are rather sharp and can show the effects of ringing on the area next to them due to bad acceleration settings

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Benchy is cute. That goes a long way in attracting attention.

The benchy is one of the earlier STLs that was freely available to download, dating from April 2015, and was released under the Creative Commons Sharealike licence, which clearly states the requirements and limitations/requirements.

Curiously, a printed Benchy can float in still water, provided no print problems crop up. It will also sit nicely on a shelf, with no risk of rolling off and makes a nice ornament.

Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3DBenchy and one of the earliest download sites https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:763622

I've had my printer for a year now, and have never printed a benchy.

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    $\begingroup$ Curiously, the internet is full of examples of benchy not floating - at least until early 2020 - without accessories. $\endgroup$
    – mcalex
    Dec 21, 2021 at 9:57
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    $\begingroup$ People must have been using some ridiculously high infill, or poor extrusion hardware preventing it from being water-tight, if Benchy wouldn't float. Floating upright is a hard problem, but just floating is the default for any 3D printed object that's not so thin not to admit a sizable infill region. $\endgroup$
    – R.. GitHub STOP HELPING ICE
    May 7, 2022 at 18:49

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