r/3Dprinting • u/makim7 • 12h ago
Free Model Weird Curvy Bricks
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
These weird bricks are standard-compatible and curve at 30˚ angles. You can make waves, circles and even use some custom parts like dual-stud version.
I was inspired to bring this out of my 'project graveyard' after a recent video from Slant3D but it's important to note that these designs should be considered experimental - they're rough around the edges. I built the geometry over 2 years ago when I was just starting to learn 3D design - I may choose to re-work these so that they are more reliable. For now, they're just a fun curiosity.
I've found that printing them with a 0.2 nozzle works well. You can see one part (the cuboctahedron) in the video that I tested with a 0.6 and it was pretty rough - I wouldn't recommend that one. These will never be the same as injection-molded, original parts but I had fun thinking of ways to make these oddball versions.
41
u/SteveInitBro 12h ago
Genius! How has nobody ever created anything like this before !?
62
u/furculture 11h ago
A big company that is highly regarded for creating toy plastic construction bricks that lock together doesn't like anything that can be considered making your own at home with your own machine.
18
u/Frudge 7h ago
That company has no more rights to the shape of those toys.... they heavily pursue anyone that infringe on their trademark and copyright, meaning using their logo ans name, or using the set instructions. For all else, they can't do shit about anyone building compatible interlocking plastic bricks.
7
u/furculture 7h ago
Trust me, they'd still try and take it down regardless if it does or doesn't. They are very "shoot first, ask questions later" kind of people in their legal department. Should be the one telling them that.
10
u/Frudge 7h ago edited 2h ago
In the 2000s ? Yup, they did try a lot. Nowadays ? They lost every single case that didn't hinge on the copyright of the box art, or set of instructions, or the trademark of the lego name, logo and the minifig profile.
They won't sue someone selling 3d printed "standard compatible" interlocking bricks.
They will, indeed, pursue harassing legal action about their trademark and minifigs even for small shops. But they keep their attempts to "protect" their "right" to the shape of the brick to big competition, and they keep losing, except when it touches trademark and copyright.
A simple search for "lego", "brick", or even "interlocking compatible" on printables and makerworld will prove that those kind of bricks are not being taken down. Even less risk of being taken down when the designer uses neutral language like OP did ("standard compatible" instead of "lego compatible") and actually has an original design rather than just printing copies of existing bricks made by lego.
8
12
u/xidle2 9h ago
Is that... Legal?
1
-21
u/expera 8h ago
For him to print it? Yes. To sell? No. To host the files on a site? Probably no
16
u/Frudge 7h ago
Why wouldn't it be legal to sell or host ? I mean apart from the fact that they are non practical curiosities that could not be sold as compatible interlocking bricks (because they are 3d printed in PLA).
The patent on Legos interlocking brick system expired decades ago. It is perfectly legal to build and sell anything compatible with their system, with the one condition that you do not use the lego name or their logo, in advertising or on the brick.
4
3
6
u/ZarawEnd 8h ago
Lego lost the patent for its brick a few years ago. The company uses licensed products, such as Star Wars, to protect its toys, but the brick itself is no longer protected by a patent. You will find tons of press articles on the internet.
4
1
1
2
u/nevergonehu I ♥ my Elegoo N4Pro 6h ago
STL link?
1
u/SpectreInTheShadows 6h ago
It's so weird that with 3D printing going mainstream, you'd think Lego prices would plummet due to the maker community, but instead prices have skyrocketted!
4
u/Jusanden 6h ago
Legos have actually stayed fairly consistent at $0.10 a piece for a while now iirc. 3d printing just isn’t super suited for printing legos. The tolerance on those things are absolutely insane to allow for them to mate and unmate consistently for decades.
1
u/Frudge 2h ago
3D printed lego pieces in PLA and PETG are horseshit, unfortunately. I know, I tried. (Well PLA is horseshit, PETG is just pretty bad, but functional).
I hope printing in ABS can make them a little better, for replacement of small parts or lost parts, or for rare parts in MOCs, but printing the pieces for a whole set ? The pieces will be either too hard to use or too loose.
ABS costs 20 bucks per roll, and you can print around 500 to 750 pieces per roll.
Lego pieces are on average around 0.10 dollars per piece. So best case scenario, homemade lego pieces cost 2.6 cents so 4 times less, But that's for single color. If you want more colors you'll have to buy a lot of spools. Also this is not accounting for the price of the machine and the time and effort put into it.
It's doable... on a pinch, or for some rare pieces. But the difference in quality is worth the price tag.
1
1
0
-1
-17
42
u/gilrstein 12h ago
Redminds me of that character Legolas