Snap component for connecting 3d printed pieces

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snap connectors2.skp snap connectors2.skpHello,
I recently have gotten access to use a 3d printer that makes parts out of abs plastic. Using this with sketchup is relatively easy, especially with plugins from folks like thom thom and fredo6. These have really made the process much smoother than it could be. Thanks to you guys.

Now, one of the drawbacks to 3d printing is the scale limitation. For me this is 6"x6"x8". It occurred to me that one way around this would be to use some kind of joinery. Such as mortise, dowel or other glued connection. Or snaps, like little kids plastic models.

Looking on the various sites for components to use this way didn't provide me with any results.

Does anyone out there know of where these could be found?
I've tried making my own, but they are not so great. I'll be trying to print them next week, but wondered if anyone had any suggestions about where to look. The file of snap/dowel connectors is attached.

I would think that many people had been confronted with this issue already - if I could snap together 6"x6"x8" parts, I could quickly be able to make things double or triple the scale.

Thanks in advance for any help!
Peter

pbacot

There's always glue.

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Yes, there is always glue. I am definitely expecting to shore up these joints with glue if necessary.
I'm not an engineer, so I'm not sure if glue alone is a superior method of joinery with ABS. Do you think so? I would expect that a dowel that was then glued would work better. The snap idea came out of the possibilities of the material - really it seems like a component that could just be added to the edge of a wall or end of a protrusion, on which one could add another part. Both sketchup and 3d printing seem unusually appropriate tools for this kind of a feature. No connector? Just drop one on there before printing!

Also, I am trying to figure out the best way to use these materials and their potential. Since a print taking up most of the 6x6x8" bed is taking on the order of 30 hours; I kind of want to utilize the parts to their highest potential.

Has anyone seen anything like this out there in downloadable components? Anyone have further advice - would glue alone be superior? Or can anyone critique my designs?

Thanks!