Easy Chain

thingiverse

This is an easy yet super fun way to create realistic 3D printed chains. Just scale it up or down to your desired length, then position each link so that it's standing on its flat side. To make a long chain, arrange the links in a zig-zag pattern, offset by 180 degrees around the z-axis. For a closed loop of chain, each link should have both the zig-zag pattern and be slightly angled around the z-axis to form a circle. If you're making a loop with 12 chains like the pictures show, each link needs a 30-degree rotation from the previous one relative to the original 0 or 180-degree rotation around the z-axis. For a loop with 30 links, the rotation is 12 degrees. To figure this out, just divide 360 degrees by the number of links. Also, make sure each link isn't touching its neighbors, which can be tricky for loops with few links like 12 was for me. If they do touch, they'll fuse together when they print. Use whatever infill and settings you prefer to create your chain. Supports aren't needed at all! Of course, if you want a stronger chain, just beef up the infill and give it a boost. Happy chain making!