Chain Mail Tri-mesh

thingiverse

The primary objective behind creating this chain mail design was to minimize each loop's complexity, enabling the pattern to be condensed into its smallest printable size while maintaining sufficient strength and flexibility. Each loop connects three others, which I believe is more versatile than the typical four-link designs found on Thingiverse. The natural shape for a three-link loop is a hexagon; however, I distorted it to form a triangular shape where each link intersects at 90 degrees. This modification allows for greater control over the printed gap between loops and prevents them from becoming tangled together. Upon completion, the pattern exhibits excellent drape properties and does not tend to become entangled. It can be easily rolled into a ball and then placed on a flat surface, where it will settle after a few gentle flicks. My intention was to create a functional fabric; however, this design has found more use as a toy for experimentation. Please visit my improved version of chain mail at: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2611564. This iteration features smoother surfaces and superior draping capabilities, with enhanced customizability. Print Settings: Printer Brand: RepRap Printer: Reprapguru Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.2mm Infill: see notes Notes: This design is not the easiest to print due to its focus on optimization. Avoid using rafts or brims, as this will necessitate trimming 540 individual pads one by one. Your printer must be well-calibrated and the bed flat across the entire area. I had to replace my original Pyrex plate because it was warped by 0.2mm. To achieve a successful print, follow this recipe: Material: PLA Bed temperature: 55C Extruder temperature: 210C Bed coating: blue tape Infill: none; however, set shell thickness to 2mm (or three lines) for 100% fill. First layer speed: 15 mm/s. This allows the PLA sufficient time to bond with the bed. You may need to add a z-hop of 0.2mm for long travels in case the extruder strikes surfaces it has already printed. However, this will slow down the print and wear on the z-axis bearings. Conduct a test run using the included test STL file containing only eight loops. Monitor your printer closely during the first layer, as most issues arise here. If one pad becomes detached, it may cause problems for the rest of the print.