One of the things I love most about 3D printing is the ability to turn a random idea - or in this case, a request from someone close - into a real, usable object. My dad, who spends a lot of time on the road driving his truck, casually asked me if I could make him a light-up cross to place inside the cabin. Something simple, that works on 12V, and gives a bit of character to his space.
Instead of just grabbing something online, I decided to model one myself. I used Fusion 360 to design the cross from the ground up, making sure it had a clean, symmetrical look that would work well with LED lighting. I also designed attachment points for suction cups, so the cross can easily be mounted to the windshield without drilling or adhesives.
The dimensions of the cross are 25x20 cm, which nearly maxes out the build volume of my Bambu Lab A1 printer - this was one of the few times I actually took full advantage of the whole plate. I printed the cross in PETG, a material that’s strong and stable enough to handle the temperature swings in a truck’s cabin.
For the lighting, I embedded a 12V LED strip into the model, wrapping it through the arms of the cross. It gives a nice, even glow when lit up, and runs directly off the truck’s power source. Wiring was simple, and I made sure everything could be tucked neatly in the back of the model.
What I ended up with wasn’t just a nice-looking accessory, but something meaningful - and custom-built. My dad was happy with how it turned out, and for me it was a fun weekend project that reminded me how satisfying it is to create something both functional and personal.
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