I’m a bit confused about how MakerWorld contests accept models that align with the contest theme.
In the school-themed contest, I noticed that the top trending and most downloaded model is a box opener knife, which is also featured. This raises some questions for me.
To be clear, I’m not saying it’s a bad model, nor am I suggesting it was stolen or anything like that. However, in my opinion, it doesn’t seem to fit within the scope of a school-themed contest.
How is a box opener knife considered a tool to bring to school? Am I the only one who feels this model doesn’t meet the contest’s requirements?
Additionally, it’s not the only knife in the contest—there are other opener knives as well. How is MakerWorld managing the inclusion of these models in a school-themed contest?
Please understand that I have no intention of being mean or accusing anyone. I’m just trying to understand the criteria being used.
The contests are very broken, themes are too vague and so many people try to manipulate their models to conform to the theme i.e. changing their “beach theme sand scoop” , by adding the word “wedding” to it makes it a “wedding sand scoop” now elegible for the wedding theme contest.
Sadly greedy people will ruin everything nice we have. They offer a report option for irrelevant models, but they are slow to be removed even if Bambu does remove them. I have been discouraged from these contests and this is one reason why.
I suggest reporting such models using the drop down feature makerworld offers
Maybe a janitor carries one on their keyring? Maybe the lunch lady uses one to open boxes of chicken nuggets? Maybe someone in a electrical trade school is using one in an environment where they need a non-conductive cutting tool.
Nothing says the items have to be for school children which I’m sure many peoples minds go to when they first see this contest.
When I think of school supplies, I don’t automatically think about kids, but I still can’t see how a box opener is an essential item in any school environment.
The box cutter does feel a bit out of place though, let’s be honest. I mean, if this was back to the warehouse, it’d make a ton more sense. In a country (Maybe not yours, but it is here, and frankly, I feel the whole world is aware) where kids often shoot up schools and weapons in school are a huge issue… a knife doesn’t seem the most appropriate addition. Even if it is just a plastic box cutter.
I can recommend the best advice when it comes to Bambu lab contests… that is to simply not care or enter them good sir.
Of course each of us would love to be handed dollars towards Bambu lab products. But that’s simply the point and let’s not forget it’s also to build a popular, featured model for MW to showcase within their platform.
I was once in the same thought space as you are now and questioned why some models were within a contest. After seeing the actions taken and the response from many others, I don’t even look at contests or the featured models honestly but that’s me.
You win some you loose some. Don’t loose sleep or put to much thought into them because it’ll be like printables at some point or another when it comes to the contest theme. We can only hope the day MW is fully out of beta it will be fully refreshed amongst all aspects.
Last bit of advice, if you want massive downloads and to be featured. Heck even have a higher chance of winning a contest, model something with zero relevance and completely useless it’s everything that trends if you take a closer look just make sure the print profile works seamless and you’ll be fine
I agree I was just trying to delve into there logic for why it would be there, I don’t think it has a place in the contest the same could be said for almost half of the entries in every contest they have ever had.
I’ve pretty much lost all hope of winning or even being featured in a contest, but I continue modeling (with my limited knowledge of 3D modeling and CAD) and sharing because I enjoy this hobby and like sharing with others.
My (very small ) rant is that I don’t like it when people “cheat,” whether it’s here or in any other field.
Last bit of advice, if you want massive downloads and to be featured. Heck even have a higher chance of winning a contest, model something with zero relevance and completely useless it’s everything that trends if you take a closer look just make sure the print profile works seamless and you’ll be fine
I know, but my principles compel me to follow the rules to the letter…
If I didn’t, my head would explode
I know this thread won’t solve all those problems.
The whole point is to ask others if they’ve also noticed the same “glitch in the matrix” or if I’m just imagining things.
I think there is no criteria on who posts the models, then we will see what the judges will do.
In my opinion, many models have nothing to do with school, the object is forced.
We’ve noticed, some abuse it and those “Creators” know who they are. Hindsight, Be Humble. Sit Down.
Nothing I’d enjoy more than to have all the time in the world to sit at the lab and straight model. Reality still keeps me working a full time career and it’s only been a 80/20 kinda gig when it comes to MW stuff for me. I try to help the best I can and sometimes upload models we found useful in our business or simply with printing in general. But man would I love to see what I could do solely if I just worked on MW designs 40hrs/wk… The dream
The fact is I was in the OpenSCAD contest and I reported some models that didn’t belong in there, not for being an a**hole, I just wanted to keep it clear.
They were not uploading customizable OpenSCAD scripts.
Suddently I was unable to download models, the website was telling me “You’ve reached your daily download limit”, after 30 hours, span over 3 days, without downloading anything, this still persisted, so I opened a ticket.
Turns out my account was partially banned from MakerWorld by an automated check for doing the same action too many times.
I agree it’s pushing it but just wanted to play devils advocate for a bit and suggest that it could fall within the realm of the loose rules MW has put out. Believe me, I shake my head at countless contest entries.
I totally get what you’re saying, and honestly, I was a bit surprised by that too. Seeing a box opener knife as the top model in a school-themed contest does feel a bit off.
I’m not knocking the model either—it’s well done for sure. But like you said, it doesn’t scream “school-themed” to me. It makes you wonder how the contest guidelines are being interpreted.
It might be that the rules are a bit flexible, or maybe it’s just that popular models get more attention regardless of the theme. But yeah, I think it would help if MakerWorld could be clearer about what really fits the theme.
You’re definitely not the only one thinking this. Maybe we could suggest to MakerWorld to be a bit stricter with these themes, or at least explain why certain models are getting featured even if they seem a little out of place.
Hi, thanks for all of your concern and interest regarding our School supply contest. These box cutters are removed from our contest page. Although it might serve as a useful tool at times, these designs bring potential safety concerns especially at school and we’ve decided to consider them as ineligible for this particular contest. Please report any other models you believe that is irrelevant to the contest theme. Thanks!
I think it’s like the psychiatrist who puts 3 wooden things on the table. 1 cube, 1 pyramid and 1 cylinder. For every question about one of the 3 things, some people point to any object but not exactly the right one. Why is that? Because they are all objects, because all three objects are made of the same material and because all three objects can be held in the hand. And what’s more, all three objects have several sides.
You could also say it’s intentional, why people do this if you don’t assume that they …
For me it should be short and simple, if you upload a model to a contest and it is clearly not relevant when judging them they should take all the points that you have won from that model for gaining that expousure. If you do that more than 3 times, ban you.
I work on my uploads to make them relevant and fun and seeing that your model top 7-10 because it has 5 mini articulated animals or fidget toys with featured badges in a kitchen gadgets contest (for example) its certainly frustating. I am sure that with more time this will improve, I hope it does.
it’s everything that trends if you take a closer look 
just make sure the print profile works seamless and you’ll be fine
) rant is that I don’t like it when people “cheat,” whether it’s here or in any other field.
