Kendama Pill

thingiverse

Update 5/28/2015 -- I uploaded new .stl files for Male bottom and Female bottom. The originals were too "square"; the new versions are more rounded. They're not exactly the same as my reference (wooden Pill), but much closer to the same profile. Kenama Pill toy (you will need to provide the string; e.g., http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P4OILO4). It is designed in multiple parts for two reasons: For strength, the spike needs to be printed horizontally (layers along the length of the spike), as I expected, and proved to be true with my kendama design(s) (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:806955 and subsequent second version, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:833183). Both ends of the pill are nearly (but not) flat, rendering support material unusable; each end really needs to print facing upwards. So, each pill piece (male/female) is printed in two halves, and fastened together with a push-and-twist design (see exploded view; again, the ring and clips are separate so the clips can be oriented for strength; to prevent the ring from splitting on a layer). Instructions: All parts should be printed as-is. No support is required for any parts. The Retainer Ring includes its own "brim" to help anchor it to the print plate... from the inside. You don't need the Exploded .stl file; it is here only for instructional purposes; to show how the pill pieces are assembled. Print one each of Female top/bottom, Male top/bottom, and Spike tip. Print two Spike halves, and Retainer rings. Print six Retainer clips. The top/bottom halves of the Male and Female pill pieces are each joined using 1 retaining ring and 3 retainer clips (see the exploded view). Place the three clips into the ring, and insert into bottom half of the Female pill piece, and twist them to lock them into the bottom half. Next, push the top half down onto the clips & ring, and twist to lock the top half to the bottom half. Repeat for the Mail pill piece. Next, insert both spike halves into the male piece so that the "nipple" sticks out the bottom, and the base of the spike "flare" seats flush with the top piece. You will most likely need to sand the shaft a bit in order to push it all the way down. You want it to be nice and snug; it should then not require any glue. Finally attach the spike tip by pressing it on, and twisting it 90 degrees to lock it on and the spike halves together. The pill is now assembled, and only requires the two parts to be tied together with a knendama string (ideally, with a bead too). The string holes are designed to be drilled out. The string hole in the pill piece (female) intentionally does not go all the way through the part so that when printing, it bridges (what will be) the bottom of the spike hole. The string hole through the nipple is best drilled after being assembled to ensure a single, straight, hole through both halves. The hole in the pill can be drilled before or after assembly.