Summary

Here is a 3D printable yad. You can print one for a bar or bat mitzvah, like I did! I've removed the recipient's name and the date of the event from this model, but if you use .stl editing software you can add your own text or images.

For those of you who don't know, a yad is used to read from the Torah to avoid damaging the pages with oils from your fingers.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

FlashForge

                                            <p class="detail-setting printer"><strong>Printer: </strong>                     <div><p>Creator Pro</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting rafts"><strong>Rafts: </strong>                     <div><p>Yes</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting supports"><strong>Supports: </strong>                     <div><p>Yes</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting resolution"><strong>Resolution: </strong>                     <div><p>0.3mm Layer Height</p></div></p>                                                                                <p class="detail-setting infill"><strong>Infill: </strong>                     <div><p>10%</p></div></p>                                                        <br>                        <p class="detail-setting notes"><strong>Notes: </strong>                    </p><div><p>Slicer: Simplify3D<br>Filament: Quantum3D PLA<br>Support Pillar Resolution: 1mm<br>Support Max Overhang Angle: 10⁰<br>Extruder Temperature: 230⁰ C<br>Bed Temperature: 60⁰ C<br>Raft Offset from Part: 10mm</p><hr><p>Contrary to probably everything you think about 3D printing, this model should be printed vertically with the hand at the top and the six pointed star at the bottom.  I tried three different orientations and numerous print settings with these settings as a desperate last-ditch effort after many failures, expecting it to fail miserably... and what do you know, the model printed almost perfectly!</p></div>

How I Designed This

I was asked to make this for a bar mitzvah. The initial, basic design took me only a few minutes to complete. After feedback from the person I was designing it for, I added the name of the recipient and the date of his bar mitzvah, and later the Star of David. I also lengthened the pointer finger for greater visibility, and added dual extrusion files for the text and star to print in a second color. There were no problems with the design: the only real problems which arose were from the printing orientation discussed in the "Print Settings" section. Below is a short description on how I arrived at the final version.

A cheaper filament was used and it was printed bottom down. Layer height was 0.3mm and infill was 10%. I was unhappy with the obvious layering, but this was the quickest orientation to print it in and this was intended as a draft.
This one was printed bottom down with 0.3mm layer height and 10% infill again. The finger was lengthened for greater visibility. The date of the bar mitzvah was added on the bottom. Again, I was unhappy with the obvious layering, but this was intended as a draft. Sliced profiles at lower layer heights showed signs of obvious layering, so I decided to change the orientation for the next print.
This yad was printed right side down. Layer height was 0.1mm and infill was 30%. The "chewed" look of the back seemed to be an anomaly.
This was the first yad I attempted dual extrusion on. Layer height was 0.1mm, infill was 30%, and it printed with its right side down. After feedback from the person who wanted this to be done, I added the Star of David at the back. After the "chewed" look became more apparent in this version, it was clear that it was due to cooling issues. Since my printer does not have an active cooling fan to prevent PLA from warping, I resorted to trying an orientation I did not expect to work.
This yad was printed with the settings listed under the "Print Settings" section. I expected this to not work at all and come out the worst, but I wanted to try it anyway because I was out of options. Surprisingly, this was the best of the five I printed. I left it with the higher layer height because a lower layer height would have been much more likely to fail, and the lack of active cooling fans resulted in dripping problems which caused discoloration and bumps to form.

Yad

Here is a 3D printable yad. You can print one for a bar or bat mitzvah, like I did! I've removed the recipient's name and the date of the event from this model, but if you use .stl editing software you can add your own text or images.

For those of you who don't know, a yad is used to read from the Torah to avoid damaging the pages with oils from your fingers.