3D Interlocking Tiles

thingiverse

This is a parametric openscad script that will generate a tile. The tile has notches in it that will mesh with other copies of the tile. This will allow you to print out and assemble a rectilinear box of any size/shape. (with the adhesive of your choice) Particularly useful if you want to make a box that's too big to fit inside the build volume of your printer. while you can just print out the components of a box, you can also use some of the optional sections of the code to add functional features to the tiles. 1) A button. Basically, this feature allows you to weaken a particular area so that when you press on it the plastic deforms and presses a button inside. 2) Cips. You can add little clips to the tips of some of the notches so that instead of being a solid box it can have a lid that easily attaches and detaches. 3) A platform. The clips need a bit of clearance to work properly, so the bottom of the box (that's mounted to something) should be raised up off of the mounting surface. 4) Fan mount. If the tile is big enough, you can add a hole (plus four screw holes) and mount a 40mm fan. Instructions Download the openscad script. It has comments that show you which variables to edit to get the tile you want. (openscad works in millimeters) You will have to measure the volume you want to enclose and work out the appropriate tile dimensions. The number of notches in each edge of the tile doesn't really matter. The geometry of the notches changes as the thickness of the tile changes, so that the notches will fit flush with each other no matter if the tiles form a flat surface or a corner. You can adjust the x and y dimensions independently. This means you can create any rectangle that will fit on your build platform, with any combination of notches (as long as they're all the same for the same box). If you start using rectangles you'll probably need to print out more than one shape of tile. Keep in mind that the notches will extend the dimensions you specify by half of the thickness of the tile. Keep in mind that sometimes the tiles can be mirrored no problem, but if you start adding features the mirrored tile will put them in the wrong place.