Show HN: PLAttice, for assembling structures much larger than the 3D printer bed

[zakqwy]

https://zachfred.in/projects/plattice/plattice.html

Struts, 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.

[brad0]

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/

[zakqwy → brad0]

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.

[tonyarkles → zakqwy]

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.

[derwiki → zakqwy]

Somehow Capsela did a better job of teaching me gear ratios than LEGO bricks

[mysterydip]

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!

[zakqwy → mysterydip]

Let me know how it goes!!