Abstract

I've long wanted to design a non-planar pre-assembly mechanism, but it was Prot0typ1cal's "Venus Box" that inspired me and helped me clarify exactly what I should create. This design is stunning, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it could actually be printed directly without needing assembly. So, I cleverly combined the idea of this spherical box with the earlier concept of the "Iris Box", and this piece was eventually born.

You can use the following link to intuitively understand its working principle and how to easily remove it from the mold after printing is completed:https://youtu.be/-m8uWz-qf7Y

Print settings

Printing brand:

• Printing brand:

  Printrbot

• Printing model:

  Simple Black

• Base plate setting:

  Without a baseboard

• Supporting structure:

  No support is needed

• Note:

  I've left a 0.3 mm gap between all moving parts. If this gap still appears insufficient, you may need to properly calibrate the printer. Common issues include: excessive temperature

My design concept

Believe it or not, this design almost follows the 45-degree rule everywhere, which is the key to its successful molding without support. If you open the file with software like 3D Builder, you can disassemble each component one by one and clearly see the construction details of the internal mechanism. In addition, you can also open the source file in OpenSCAD, which includes an animation demonstrating the movement of each component. It is recommended to set the $fn parameter to 30, so the loading speed will be faster and it won't take too long.