Bead Roller Coaster

thingiverse

This week's FriDIY item is the classic bead roller coaster or maze we probably all had as little kids. I definitely remember having a blast with these when I was four years old. Now you can create your own fully customizable toy by printing out Your Wild World Bead Roller Coaster! Add as many blocks as you like to this modular toy and go big or stay small - it's entirely up to you! We have provided a set of beads for printing, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you can actually use for beads. We considered using filament for the wire but found it impossible to manipulate and it lacked rigidity. Even braided filament was no good - a complete disaster. So we opted for 14-gauge picture hanging wire available at most hardware stores for about six bucks US dollars. This is an aluminum single stand wire that's easy to bend by hand, can be snipped easily with wire cutters, and is exactly what you need. Go wild with this print! We want to see the craziest and biggest bead roller coasters you can come up with! For a more in-depth look at how we printed our version of this project, check out our blog post on this print: http://www.yourwildworld.com/fridiy-bead-roller-coaster/ Instructions First off, print out the connector cubes and the support rails. Then start connecting and building your platform. You can go as big or stay small as you please. Take that 14-gauge wire and bend it into position. Once you have everything sorted out and arranged just the way you like it, we highly recommend using a strong adhesive to connect the connector cubes, support rails, and wire into place. This will ensure your print can withstand even the most intense rigors of kids playing with them. We printed all parts with 10 percent infill, two shells, and low resolution. The cubes should take about ten minutes each to print out, and the rails are just as quick.