Summary
Here is a new configuration of chain mail that has a nice texture to it. It is not quite as flexible as a previous version I submitted:"thingiverse.com/thing:1874263" but it is easier to print and is stronger. It starts off printing with tiny pads on the bed but they quickly merge into groups of four and has a good foundation. None of the slopes are less than 45 degrees and when it finally has to bridge it is for a very short distance.
2018-8-5 Fixed some bugs in the OpenSCAD file.
Print Settings
Printer:
ReprapGuru
Rafts:
No
Supports:
No
Resolution:
.2mm
Infill:
see notes
Notes:
Set infill to zero but use thick skin so links are not hollow.
I use blue tape on the bed with a thin coating of dilute Elmer's glue.
I could not get ABS plastic to stick to the bed but had no problems with PLA or PETG.
Making custom STL files:
Note that OpenSCAD can make a preview of a 10x10 mesh in a few seconds but will take an hour or more to render it. It is much faster to make a STL of a single link and then pattern it using FreeCAD or TinkerCAD.
The link-to-link spacing for the default design is 12.74mm and this mesh works freely without any post-work (on my machine). I tried a 10mm spacing on a 14x14 mesh and it worked but required some flexing to free it up.
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