Kragleblocks - Open Source, Easily Printed LEGO Alternative

myminifactory

On September 20, 2019, Ender3Guy received a call to action from the LEGO group with multiple takedown requests for Cults3D. This swift move was followed by a large-scale removal of models from other sites like Thingiverse and MyMiniFactory. The LEGO group's bold action clearly signals that they do not want the maker community creating derivatives of their iconic bricks. Kragleblocks are designed to serve as a direct replacement for LEGO bricks in the maker community. They can be easily printed, and with some fine-tuning, exhibit the same consistent clutch power as injection-molded bricks, a feat notoriously difficult to replicate through 3D printing. Note that Kragelblocks are significantly smaller than standard LEGO bricks, measuring just 5mm per block. I've included detailed photos to illustrate this size difference. LICENSE - Read This Carefully Kragleblocks are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC-BY-NC-SA) license. This means that you cannot sell Kragelblocks or any derivative thereof without explicit permission from Ender3Guy. If you wish to sell these, simply send a message and we'll work out the details. Additionally, whenever this design is showcased on a webpage, I must be credited as the designer. Any derivatives of this work must also be shared under the same license. AVAILABLE BLOCKS Here's a comprehensive list of available blocks. Be sure to check back regularly, as new additions are being made frequently. Bricks: * 2x2 * 3 * 4 * 1x1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * Angled cutoff Plates: * 2x2 * 3 * 4 * 1x1 * 2 * 3 * 4 * Angled cutoff Slopes are coming soon, so keep an eye out for those! PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS Start by printing 3-4 Kragelblocks to determine the optimal clutch power. This initial run should cost around five cents and provide you with a baseline understanding of how the blocks behave. If your printed bricks exhibit uneven top-and-bottom grip, try adjusting your extrusion multiplier. If it's too loose, increase the multiplier; if it's too tight, decrease it. Kragleblocks are designed to be easier to print than standard LEGO bricks due to their unique tabs that grab onto studs precisely where they need to. REMIXING The design package includes .step files for every brick type. These files also feature a drag-and-drop system for creating 2-stud wide bricks of any length. To create 1-stud bricks, simply combine multiple 1x1s and then join them by extruding. Additionally, I've included .dxf files for 1x1, 2x2, and 2x3 bricks. Keep in mind that these .dxf files require manual adjustments to account for tolerances on the side of the bricks. To compensate, use an Extrude or a Press/Pull to add 0.1mm tolerances around the exterior sides of the brick once you've extruded it from the sketch. Lastly, Kragleblocks are designed with easy modification in mind. The standard unit is 5mm, and most studs are half that size. If you're interested, explore the .step files for more information on modifying these bricks. [That was a lengthy write-up.] I think I'm done now, but if I've missed anything or misspelled any words, please let me know in the comments. Enjoy your Kragleblocks!