Barbie Balance Beam

My daughter asked for a Barbie Gymnastics set from Target for her birthday. After purchasing the one she wanted (https://www.target.com/p/barbie-174-careers-gymnastic-coach-dolls-playset/-/A-52607245#lnk=sametab) and realizing how lack-luster it was, I decided I could do better. The result is this Balance Beam, a Pommel Horse and a Spring Board to make a nice DIY playset.

Pommel Horse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2574942
Spring Board: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2576832

This is a nice, fairly scale size balance beam that can be printed in three sizes in case you have a small print bed. You can also mix and match to get a finished length that fits your needs.

I printed the beam in the same position it gets used in. This required me to use supports to keep the pockets for the legs supported. You could easily print upside-down or even vertically if you were brave. I've included a small Beam Half Test Piece if you want to experiment before committing to the full print.

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer:

i3 MK2S

Rafts:

No

Supports:

Yes

Resolution:

.2

Infill:

20%

Notes:

The legs will curl off the print bed if you don't use a brim. 3mm worked perfectly for me. Supports only needed on the Beam Half if you choose to print in the orientation that I supplied the STL in.

Print two center spars and clean up as necessary to get a tight fit into the mating holes in the beam halves. Super-glue all the parts together and paint if you want some more realistic colors. I stuck with the White, Pink and Silver PLA to keep a Barbie toy like theme.

Post-Printing

Test piece

Use this extra short test piece if you want to experiment with print orientation and supports before committing to the full print.

Beam Half Test.stl

Use 3mm brim on legs

The contact area of the cross piece is so small, the part will curl off the print bed and ruin your print if you don't add a brimm. I used 3mm and it worked perfectly!

These were the initial prints, decided to add the cross bracing for strength later as you see in the final STL's

Feet added just for looks. They print quickly and can be snapped or glued on.

Inspiration shot from Google search

My finished design in the same orientation and rendered in Fusion 360.

Another inspiration shot in almost my same planned colors.

My finished design in the same orientation and rendered in Fusion 360.

Inspirational set can be purchased here:
https://www.target.com/p/barbie-174-careers-gymnastic-coach-dolls-playset/-/A-52607245#lnk=sametab

Another inspirational set that can be purchased here:
https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Toddler-Student-Flippin-Gymnastics/dp/B01ARGBRGW/ref=sr\_1\_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1507468224&sr=8-3&keywords=barbie+gymnastic

How I Designed This

Fusion 360