Hi all,
I have modeled this basic kind of a lego brick for others to try.
I know that 3d printing a ring or a circular shape is far for being straight foreward as inherently 3d printing is better at printing a cubic shape ( except the core xy or delta config..as far as I read)
so people like Joel (integza) wanted to 3d print a piston and he experience a lack of consistency in the circular. therefore He designed a cubic piston instead.
I did a few month ago a 3d repair part for cheap canva commode.
becaus the metalpipes destroyed the connecting part made of pp. So I designed at first a model with circular shape and I went to a hexagonal based repair part… I joined this file as well…
2 advantages of hexagonal instead of circular:
by 3d printing you will probably get less inconsistency in the shape fitting…use the two opposite internal faces distance as the diameter you want to achieve. also named inscribed circle.
second:when an hexagonal tube is printed along the b axis -you automatically get a certain overlap which most printers achieve with success. as it forms an angle of 60°. it is a little bit over the 45° but it works without support most of the time so you can print a hollow tube parallel to the bed without support.
So I believe this is prone to be better for being 3d printed as regular lego.
It may be intercompatible! I did not check that so far.
and I believe their patents may cover my design as this is not new enough…. but It may allow them to go to 3d printing of lego bricks instead of injection molding. especially imagine the lego shops being able to print new design for their customer as give away… like the air racer block Compatible Brick for Balloon Car by LordS34N - Thingiverse
this is the future! I am convinced.
3d printing of reactive materials or highly customizable parts to be sold from a shop…
but sadly not for tomorrow.
So the hexagonal tubing is more appropriate for 3d printing than regular round pipe!
The author marked this model as their own original creation.