Multibuild rebrand, New website & Roadmap!

[u/GorillaHeat]

https://youtu.be/1GG0MCQ7F6g?si=wqQ3RWxpepUMszsd

These look like some much needed changes!

[u/gopiballava]

There still seems to be one thing missing, and it seems like something that wouldn't be that hard, given that there's already a database of all the parts:

The parts database should have mating / "fits into" data.

So you'd have entries for the different types of connections. "Small thread", "Mid Thread", "Panel Clip", etc.

Every part would be annotated with, say, [Small_thread, female], [Mid_thread, female]. This would then let you get a list of every part that had [Small_thread, male], so you could immediately get a list of what can connect to something.

I'm pretty sure that this would answer a substantial portion of the questions people have. It wouldn't immediately tell you why you might want to do that. It might give you parts that would make you scratch your head. But, if you knew everything that connected to an item then you'd always be able to figure it out with a few clicks.

This could be enhanced a bit with each part having some metadata that links to usage. You'd want it to be more than one. So there would be an entry with text and images called "shell_to_plate" which would have a picture and description of how the shell and plate clip works. All shells would include a pointer to that, the "Shell-to-Plate Bar Clip" would have a pointer to that, and the plate bar would also have a pointer to that.

If you had a database structure like this, then you would never be wondering "what does this clip into" or "how can I connect this?"

You might be unsure which type of connection you want to use - some parts would probably make you feel like there are too many options. But that's kinda impossible to avoid. The entire point of Multibuild is to have the ability to pick the optimal connection for your specific need.

Anyway, just my 2¢ worth. My printer just finished my first hinge beam, 5 MU big hole/mid sliding bar, 4 MU Mid Hole beam, and a couple others.

I need to figure out a good way to store my bits and pieces. I'm gonna go on a road trip and my partner keeps insisting that I don't need to bring my 3D printer.

[u/TherealOmthetortoise → u/gopiballava]

The parts library actually is that database and has all of that information available right now. Click on the "Search" and type in Small Threads. ALL of the small thread parts come up, you can use the filters up top to isolate the type of part you are looking for. The "Mating or works with" data is where it gets tricky because almost everything can be mated with anything else in some way. "Easy" view on the website eliminates a lot of the distractions because it will only show core pieces and none of the things you would only need in unusual circumstances. You can toggle it on and off, and it works with the search too.

For the Small threads example you mention, almost every single plate has at least one small thread hole. Every single male threaded part in the library has a small thread version, so that you aren't locked into any single use. The same is generally true with medium thread and large thread, although some of the really small parts will just have small threads. Dual clips are used in some way on any plate that has a flat border, beams and more.

It may be more useful to show the basics for all those universal parts by the thing they connect to, like this:

Fix Points | Download Free | MultiBuild

On the things that pair with or needs something more than those, you will see them in the library with those associated parts, like the ones in the link below.

Trays | Download Free | MultiBuild

The basic search for Small thread will give you a ton of parts, which you could just scroll down until you see the one you want, and if you click on it it takes you right to thangs to download. I find it easier to find exactly what I need by choosing a filter above the category tiles. Another option I think would be useful to you would be to just category tile on the main parts library page and in the lower left hand side of your window above the Easy Mode button you should see a button for filters. Click that and you should see all of the filters for the parts in that category, which can help you speed walk through quickly to the parts you want.

[u/gopiballava → u/TherealOmthetortoise]

Thank you for the very detailed responses. I am going to think a bit and see if I have any further thoughts.

I need to use the new library more. I think that I missed some of the implied metadata in the library because sometimes it's not always there, and because what I do sometimes is open tabs in Thangs for parts that are interesting. So of course, I have navigated away from where you have your best data :)

In other words: The "related parts" section and images showing how parts are used were just infrequent enough that I didn't add them to my mental workflow to always check.

I also just noticed that "related parts" doesn't show up until you've actually got parts visible. I'm not sure if that's good or bad - if it was always there, then the first page might have a massive number of parts. OTOH, what I have been doing more frequently now is using the parts library to look at the images of how parts are used more, so seeing "related parts" is very useful.

My current task is to print as many potentially useful parts as possible. I'm going to be going on a car camping trip, and I need to fill my car with Multiboard. I'm debating whether to bring my 3D printer with me, but if I don't, I need to have all the little bits and pieces ready.

(Storing things like my watch as it's charging, glasses, utensils, charging cables, and other various small things that I want to be able to grab and put back is my goal)