Shapelock Rod (crisscross style)

thingiverse

I stumbled upon this "crisscross style shapelock rod" while digging through my old files, and it's a three-year-old experiment that still holds some interest. **Note:** I recall clearances needing to be tweaked to minimize post-processing hassle. It merely illustrates the form closure principle in question. Beyond that, it's not particularly useful, except maybe for noisy rattlesnake fidgeting. There's no closing clip at one end; instead, I used a bit of transparent adhesive tape (as shown in the photos). I created this thing because during my research on chains featuring form closure, I came across the Chapman Puzzles and wanted to recreate their basic structure on a whim. # Properties It's weak under tensile load due to printing layer orientation. Rotating the part for different printing layer orientations only shifts the problem around. If you want it stronger, I'd suggest going for a multipart design or using non-FDM printing. There was no intention to create a stiff rod; I believe the proper way is by tensioning rather than reducing clearances. # Links * http://chapmanpuzzles.com/catalog.htm * https://web.archive.org/web/20170815212842/https://www.woodenuknow.com/3dsculpturepuzzles.html