OpenSCAD Chess

thingiverse

This is a chess set developed from my glChess chess set, but boasting many upgrades. I have painstakingly redrafted all the component profiles by hand and now generate every single piece in OpenSCAD utilizing rotate_extrude. I've incorporated the knight from zheng3's "Garden Guardian", which serves as an improved version of my original knight (June 23, updated "horse3.stl"; streamlined a few errant lines and points, and enlarged the muzzle to ensure it looks more like a horse than a dragon when viewed head-on). June 26, 2015 update: I've included split variations of every piece except for the rook to prevent overhangs and allow them to be printed without supports (the rook features more substantial overhangs when divided into halves). All pieces, including both the intact and separated models, have been broadened at the neck to reduce their delicacy and susceptibility to breaking. I've also eliminated all individual DXF and SVG files and compiled them into two ZIP archives. Update: If you insist on printing upright, take a glance at the remix found at http://thingiverse.com/thing:3381939 which has modified the outlines to smooth out the abrupt transition from vertical to horizontal, reinforced the cross on the king's crown to minimize the risk of it snapping off, and added a support underneath the knight's chin that won't detract from its appearance. To pair with this chess set, an OpenSCAD-designed chess board is available at http://thingiverse.com/thing:957958. Instructions These pieces boast overhangs exceeding 45 degrees and are best printed with support. However, models bearing the filename containing the word "split" have been divided in half to be printed separately without supports, and assembled together. All files are included; if you simply want to print, download the scad_*.stl files. If you wish to compile from source using OpenSCAD, download all additional files. The profile curves were drawn in xcircuit (profiles.ps), but can also be manipulated within inkscape via the SVG files. To print without supports: Be cautious of the layer height employed and the capabilities of your printer, and the rook can be printed as a single piece. The other pieces have been designed to be split down the middle, to be printed in two sections and glued together. Alignment holes are provided, featuring a diameter that should fit snugly around a peg constructed from a short filament rod. The pawn, queen, and king split pieces display symmetry, necessitating two prints each. Conversely, the knight and bishop pieces exhibit antisymmetry; thus, one of each is required for a complete piece. The featured photograph depicts a set I crafted utilizing eSUN wood filament obtained from http://www.intservo.com. The rook was printed vertically, whereas all other pieces utilized the split models. To prepare the finishing work, I initiated with a light sanding to roughen the surface and impart a wood-like texture. Next, I inserted filament "pegs" into the split sections, followed by an application of cyanoacrylate (super glue). The seam between the two half-pieces was then filled with wood filler. Upon drying, each piece was meticulously sanded using fine-grit sandpaper to achieve a smoother finish. This was followed by the application of two coats of stain (MinWax Provincial 211) and a semi-gloss coat. Lastly, I delicately rubbed each piece down with fine steel wool to finalize the process.