Lego Compatible Tree - Fruit Tree

thingiverse

Here we have two more Lego compatible trees I made specifically for you Lego enthusiasts who need a wide variety of trees in your Lego builds! It's truly the same tree but there are two distinct ways to print it, each offering unique features. I believe this type of tree is commonly known as a "fruit tree". The first method, shown on the right, bears a striking resemblance to my pine tree design: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3782071. This includes a sturdy base with "steps" rising up the main body, allowing all the branch disks to fit and be evenly spaced. The disks are labeled L1 through L9, with the bottom branch being L1 and the top one being L9. I secured them in place using a small drop of glue, as the branches might shift while moving the tree around in your Lego build. This method is quicker but it's essential to have your printer settings optimized for part fitment. The second method, shown on the left, consists of three separate sections: the base and two identical halves all glued together. Once again, it's the same-looking tree but with an additional "plate" as seen in the original design (center pic). This approach took longer to print due to the direction of the branches. It doesn't look as appealing to my eyes, but it does have less assembly required. Stringing may become a problem if your printer settings or temperatures are not correctly adjusted. I applied glue and aligned one half of the tree with the base first, then attached the second half in place. This base has one step in it to aid in aligning both halves of the tree. I used supports for each half but had difficulty removing them. I attribute this to the direction of the print (parallel to the support structure). I tried printing without supports, and even so, I needed to use a Dremel and burring tool to clean up the channel for the base. Both methods were printed at 0.2mm resolution. For dimensional parts, it's crucial to slow down your print speed. I never printed faster than 40mm/s. This is particularly important as the steps in the base have small increments, and the fitment relies on this precision. The branches may require a bit of wiggling and pushing as they slide down the base... but they do fit! Installation tip: use a small deep socket to aid in pushing on the branch disks. This will help prevent snapping the disks in half. Enjoy these additional happy trees, and feel free to leave comments or suggestions for other types of trees or plants you'd like to see created. I'll do my best to bring them to life!