Quasi-Roller Chain Link

***Warning. This is a very weak design and should only be used in low stress situation. It is really a toy and part of a wider project of 3dprintable BuildingBlocks. To date it has supported a 3kg weight/mass for 24 hours using one loop. Please see picture. Should you use this please do so in a safe manner - it will not withstand even small forces as it is designed for adaptability and not strength. 

I have no design or engineering experience and cannot guarantee the safety of or recommend constructing this component that is part of a wider project I call BuildingBlocks. It is designed for my nieces and nephews so that they could learn hard skills and test out theories while building working mechanisms. These links can be put together to assemble a quasi-roller chain.   I am making this project public in hopes that a wider community can be formed and humbly ask for any feedback you would be willing to provide. Thank you.  

The system of building blocks has three main components.

1) 3D printed blocks that I find are best printed using “0.15mm Quality” setting in PrusaSlicer. This produces acceptable tapped holes that will accept ¼"-20 bolts. Generic PLA is the filament that I use and it has more than met my needs. For strength purposes I use 4 perimeters and a 10% gyroid infill with 5 layers on top and bottom. 

2) ¼"-20 plastic bolts and nuts from McMaster-Carr. Though any ¼"-20 bolt would work, the plastic ones from McMaster-Carr work well and are the most affordable option I could find. 

3) Plywood planks that are 1 inch wide, 7/32 inch or ½ inch thick and variable lengths. Unfortunately, all the ¼ inch material options like plywood and MDF have a thickness of 7/32 inch. This is not the biggest problem as a 1/32 inch washer works “OK” when lining up parts but access to true ¼ inch material would be preferable. The planks have a 9/32 inch hole drilled on the midline starting half an inch in and spaced 1 inch apart. For every 1 inch in length, each plank would have one hole. The planks could be 3D printed however the cost in time seemed too much. A jig for drilling holes in the planks will be released as a separate project. Ripping plywood on a table saw into strips with width 127/128 inches worked well for me.