The "Impossible Dovetail" in cube and tall form, 3D printed in PLA

myminifactory

I used to craft these wooden cubes on a bandsaw during high school wood shop about 45 years ago, and they were much larger than this scaled-down version. My shop teacher would meticulously measure each finished cube to ensure it was exactly 4 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches, instilling in me the importance of precision back then. This 3D printed model is significantly easier to create, measuring only 40mm by 40mm by 40.2mm, which is just a fraction too tall at .2mm. Thankfully, my shop teacher won't notice this minor discrepancy. Unlike its wooden predecessor, this version doesn't require manual cranking, motors, glue, or other labor-intensive materials... for now, at least. To see the video of this project in action, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEr1gaCMv5g&list=UUv_zm49u-RjnCJVwhUO-ecA&feature=c4-overview. Designed with Sketchup 8 and printed on a Makerbot Replicator 2 using PLA materials and Makerware 2.3.3.42, this model showcases the capabilities of modern 3D printing technology. UPDATE: I've added the taller versions of both pieces as requested by my fellow 3D printing enthusiasts, expanding the possibilities for this project.