This construction toy is inspired by the discontinued Pipeworks sets from the 1980s.
Rather that replicate the original set exactly, this has been scaled down and optimized for 3D printing. This project also includes completely new parts!
Videos
Printing
This design requires no supports.
Some taller pieces may need a generous brim, especially if using a printer with a moving bed.
Look out for elephants foot (squishing on the bottom layers). This may cause tight fitting parts to fall too far out of spec. If needed, use a deburring tool to clean up the bottom edge of the prints.
Infill can be relatively low - 10-15%
Print the optional rivets in TPU or similar flexible filament.
Print the optional lock rings in PETG or strong formulations of PLA (PLA+).
Avoid using brittle PLA filaments for this project.
This design includes parts that are intended to slide and lock together with only 0.125mm of clearance. If you are unsure if your printer can reproduce this accurately, print one part of any of the joint pieces and the smallest pipe as a test. The parts should slide together without extreme force.
Assembly
This project relies heavily on glue to assemble the joint pieces. For this project, I recommend using 3D Gloop!, which will quickly fuse the parts together.
All joints parts include alignment geometry where they connect with each other. Test positioning these parts before gluing them.
Misc
For easier organization, some identical parts have been listed multiple times. For example, the “X Joint” uses a part identical to the “T Joint”.
Can I sell copies of this?
Sorry, but no. This design is based on an existing (although discontinued) toy, so it is not available under a commercial license. Some remixes of this project may be listed under a different license.
Updates
- Curved Pipes
- Round Endcap
- 5-Way Connector
- 6-Way Connector
- Multi-hinge
- Slats
- Detents
- Tool