Show HN: PLAttice, for assembling structures much larger than the 3D printer bed
zachfred.inStruts, nodes, and pins are reversibly assembled into fully 3D printed lattices, trusses, and tree-like structures spanning up to a few meters. I used the system to build a stand for an overhead table lamp which supports a ~1 m cantilevered arm using a tensioned floor-to-ceiling column. If you want to give it a try, find the *.stl files at the bottom of the page; figure ~1 kg of PLA and ~1 day of print time per meter of box truss; pay attention to print orientation; plz respect the license; and definitely print the pin trimming jig.
Showing my age here, but this reminds me of knex. You would get different models but you could make whatever you wanted out of the parts. It was a great creative toy back in the day.
I just took a look online and they’re still selling kits. I’m partial to the Ferris wheel.
https://www.basicfun.com/knex/
Knex is great! I had a small set growing up, but never one of the big dynamic ones. Did you ever come across Capsela? Another fun modular building kit. The floaty set was awesome.
Capsela was really cool! In the end I feel like Lego with the Technics and Mindstorms stuff caught up but for a while Capsela was some of the coolest stuff you could get for making mechanical/electrical systems.
Somehow Capsela did a better job of teaching me gear ratios than LEGO bricks
I've been wanting something like this! I have a box I wanted to print but need it larger than my bed. Will give this a go, thanks!
Let me know how it goes!!