Iakov DavydovNov 1

I ended up with way too many IKEA Allen keys. And this may sound a bit silly, but instead of throwing them away, I designed a connector system to turn them into a construction set for my kid. 🤷

It took a few iterations to get the parts strong and robust (prints well in ASA/ABS).

Would this be something you’d like to see on Printables?

Sharing a few design challenges in this thread.

#3DPrinting @3dprinting

Show threadU.LancierNov 1
@idavydov @3dprinting interesting, but how many more varieties would be possible if the connectors would be based on different platonic bodys?
Show threadIakov DavydovNov 1

@Ulan_KA @3dprinting I was thinking about a triangular prism next, but I have to see how successful the toy is. So far my kid didn't play much.

For anything other than a cube you'd also probably have to scale it up to give enough clearance for the fins/flexible features. My guess for a dodecahedron you would need something at least 2-3 times bigger (in every dimension; i.e. >8 times more plastic).

Show threadKepekenNov 1

@idavydov @Ulan_KA @3dprinting one thought, if you wanted all of the sides to be symmetric, would be to bevel all the corners and stand the cube on one of them 🤔

this is a really great project btw.

Show threadIakov DavydovNov 1

@kepeken @Ulan_KA @3dprinting Nice idea!

I'm not sure grip fins would print well on a 45-angled surface, but they actually might. The other problem to solve would be bed adhesion. So some brim or designed features might be needed.

Show threadU.Lancier
@idavydov @kepeken @3dprinting I expect all the grip parts to be equal. They just need to be sufficient deep and firm gipping. Then the body itself is only providing the orientation. I guess printing it all flat (with those holes sticking up on a plane) and then folding it up, finally filling the void around the holes with hot glue will be the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to produce them.
Nov 1 at 6:59pmWeb
Show threadIakov DavydovNov 2
@Ulan_KA @kepeken @3dprinting fair. If assembling from multiple parts I can also imagine printing a whole cube with larger threaded holes separately from the compliant grip fins. Then screwing the compliant parts in somehow.