TopoMiller
🏔️ Community Projects
Share your finished topographic carvings and discover projects from makers around the world.
✨ What is Community Projects?
Community Projects is where TopoMiller users showcase their finished CNC carvings and 3D prints. Browse projects to find inspiration, see proven CNC settings, and export STL files to replicate carvings yourself.
Save Projects
Save your terrain configurations with all settings preserved for later use.
Share & Inspire
Publish your finished carvings with photos, CNC settings, and detailed specs.
Clone & Customize
Clone projects to your workspace and modify settings to make them your own.
💾 Saving Projects
Save your terrain configurations to easily return to them later or prepare them for publishing.
- 1. Generate your terrain
Select a region and configure your settings on the Generate page
- 2. Click "Save Project"
Located at the top of the settings panel on the left, just below the data source banner
- 3. Name your project
Give it a memorable name like "Yosemite Valley" or "Grand Canyon Relief"
- 4. Access from Dashboard
Find all your saved projects at /dashboard
🌟 Publishing to Community
Share your finished carvings to help others learn from your experience and replicate your success.
Publishing is for finished projects
Only publish projects after you've actually carved or printed them. Include photos of your finished piece to inspire others!
Step-by-Step Publishing:
- 1. Go to your Dashboard
Select the project you want to publish
- 2. Click "Publish to Community"
This opens the publishing wizard
- 3. Choose machine type
CNC Mill or 3D Printer
- 4. Add photos (2-10 required)
Show your finished piece from multiple angles. Max 5MB per image.
- 5. Enter details
- • Material used (Walnut, Cherry, PLA, etc.)
- • Roughing pass settings (speeds, feeds, bit size)
- • Finishing pass settings
- • Final dimensions
- • Optional notes and tips
- 6. Review and publish
Your project goes live immediately in the community gallery
🔍 Browsing & Cloning Projects
Browse the Gallery:
- • View all projects: Visit /community to browse the gallery
- • Filter by material: Find projects made with your preferred material
- • Sort by popularity: See most downloaded or recently added projects
- • Search: Look for specific regions or project names
View Project Details:
Click any project to see:
- • Photo gallery of the finished piece
- • Complete CNC settings (speeds, feeds, bit sizes)
- • Material and dimensions
- • Creator's notes and tips
- • Download count and likes
Clone to Your Workspace:
- 1. Click "Clone to My Projects" on any project detail page
- 2. Project copies to your Dashboard with all settings preserved
- 3. Open and modify the settings to make it your own
- 4. Generate your own version!
Clone Prevention
You cannot republish a cloned project without modifications. This prevents duplicate content in the community. Make changes (adjust relief height, bounds, settings, etc.) before publishing.
📥 Exporting STL Files
Export proven STL files from the community to replicate successful carvings.
- • Sign in required: You must be logged in to export files
- • Free exports: All community STL files are free (subject to monthly export limits)
- • Click "Export STL": Found on project detail pages
- • Export limits apply: Community exports count toward your monthly export limit
- • Attribution appreciated: Give credit to the original creator if you share your results
⚙️ Managing Your Projects
From Your Dashboard:
- • View all projects: See saved and published projects
- • Open in Generate: Continue working on saved projects
- • Edit community project: Update settings or notes
- • Unpublish: Remove from community (stays in your Dashboard)
- • Delete: Permanently remove a project
- • Export STL: Re-export your own STL files
Editing Published Projects:
You can update your published projects at any time:
- 1. Navigate to your project in the community or Dashboard
- 2. Click "Edit" (only visible to project owner)
- 3. Update settings or notes
- 4. Save changes - they go live immediately
❤️ Social Features
Likes
Show appreciation for great projects by clicking the heart icon. Track which projects are most loved by the community.
Download Counts
See how many times a project's STL file has been downloaded. Popular projects indicate proven settings that work well.
💡 Best Practices
When Publishing:
- ✅ Upload clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles
- ✅ Include the actual settings you used (not estimated)
- ✅ Share tips in the notes field (feed direction, finish used, etc.)
- ✅ Be accurate with dimensions and material type
- ✅ Only publish after you've actually carved/printed it
When Using Others' Projects:
- ✅ Start with the provided settings but adjust for your machine
- ✅ Consider material hardness differences (oak vs pine, etc.)
- ✅ Test with a small section first if possible
- ✅ Give credit to the original creator when sharing your results
- ✅ Make meaningful changes before republishing as your own
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I publish without an STL file?
No, you must save an STL file to your project before publishing. This ensures others can download and replicate your exact carving.
How many projects can I save?
There's no limit! Save as many projects as you need. However, you may be limited on how many you can publish to the community per month.
Can I make my project private after publishing?
Yes, click "Unpublish" from your Dashboard or the project detail page. This removes it from the community gallery but keeps it in your personal Dashboard.
What happens to likes/downloads if I unpublish?
Counts are preserved. If you republish the same project later, the likes and downloads will still be there.
Why can't I publish a cloned project?
To prevent spam and duplicate content, you must make modifications to a cloned project before publishing. Change the relief height, bounds, or any other setting to make it unique.
Are there file size limits?
Yes. Photos: 5MB per image. STL files: 100MB maximum. Most topographic STL files are well under this limit.
Can I edit a project after publishing?
Yes! You can update settings and notes at any time. Changes appear immediately in the community.
Ready to Share Your Creations?
Join our community of makers showcasing their topographic carvings. Inspire others, learn from proven settings, and be part of the TopoMiller community.
Need help? Visit our documentation or contact us through feedback.