WHAT THIS IS:

This is not a standalone part. This a module to easily integrate the ultimate embedded hex mounting ring into your 3D GraviTrax marble run accessory designs. 3D designs for GraviTrax marble run accessories need better hex mounting rings, and this design is the best I have found for a number of reasons.

HOW IT WORKS:

The base ring is embedded in the base. Use tweezers to pull it out and then turn it 30 degrees and snap it back in. Video showing this at https://www.facebook.com/1718873898/videos/864062532283023/

WHY YOUR GRAVITRAX-COMPATIBLE DESIGN NEEDS THIS:

Too many hex rings designs for GraviTrax make life a headache because they...

1. Are sized too small so the resulting part fits loosely in a GraviTrax baseplate or height tile or pillar. Loose parts are easy to knock over, they wobble in place, and are not much fun to play with. Parts that grip like Lego parts are fun to use because they stay in place where they are put, and hold together.
2. Are printed in place on the part, leaving you struggling to remove a bed of support from the underside of the tile undersurface which was raised off the bed.
3. Require lots of time clearing out a channel in which to glue the ring. The channel is filled with either drooping filament from bridging, or support material that was used to support the roof of the channel.

WHY THIS RING DESIGN IS THE BEST:

This hex ring is:

1. Sized just right.
2. Prints like a dream with no support
3. Works every time unless you have elephant's foot, in which case you need to adjust your printer settings
4. Prints inside the tile, leaving the tile's undersurface smooth and flat because it printed on the print bed.
5. Supports the bridging over the hex ring channel.
6. Easily pops out of the tile with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver
7. Turns 30 degrees then snaps back in, yet is not dependent on contact with the roof of the hex ring channel, so you never have to worry about drooping filament causing a problem.

TO INTEGRATE THIS HEX RING INTO YOUR GRAVITRAX-COMPATIBLE DESIGN:

1. Center the "Step 1 - Cutout.stl" file in the center of your GraviTrax tile design (where the hex ring cutout would normally be placed). Make this model a hole or negative piece.
2. Subtract (combine negative part) "Step 1 - Cutout" with your GraviTrax part, leaving a cutout in the bottom.
3. Decide which version of "Step 2 - hex ring" you want to use. I recommend version 2.
   • Version 1 results in a shallower (2mm deep) ring that is too shallow to grip the top of a GraviTrax PRO pillar, but will grip ok when placed on top of most height tiles and baseplates. Version 1 ring will clip into your part's base (5 layer lines of overlap), but the tight grip of the ring with height tiles and especially baseplates will tend to pull the ring out of the part unless it is glued in. So even with version 1, I recommend gluing the ring into the base of your part.
   • Version 2 results in a slightly deeper (2.4mm deep) ring that will grip better overall, and will grip on top of a GraviTrax PRO pillar. However, the ring must be glued into the base. Version 2 has only 0.6mm remaining depth for the ring's interface to the base of your part (3 layer lines of overlap), and so the ring won't clip securely into the base. There is just enough depth to properly position the ring for gluing in.
   • OR just print the separate ring which will both clip into your part's base like Version 1, but also a deeper 3.0mm ring for gripping to the part or height tile beneath.
4. Center the "Step 2 - hex ring" module in the same location as the cutout. IMPORTANT: Ensure the hex ring module's hex apex cutouts are pointing to the tile flat side surfaces of the tile hexagon (typically in the direction where the marble tracks enter and exit the tile). This will ensure that when the integrated hex ring is removed and rotated 30 degrees during assembly, the hex ring's sides will be parallel to your design's hex-shaped sides. SEE THE EXAMPLE IN THE OVERVIEW STL.
5. Combine the "Step 2 - hex ring" module with your GraviTrax part, embedding it into your design.
6. TEST PRINT YOUR PART.

ASSEMBLY AFTER PRINTING:
STEP 1. REMOVE RING FROM BASE: Use pliers or a small screwdriver to pry the ring out of the base. You'll rotate the ring 30 degrees and place it back on the base of your part.
STEP 2. GLUE IN: Place a small dab of glue in the center of each of hte 6 little triangles where the 6 apexes of the ring will contact the base of the GraviTrax tile. Without glue, the tight grip of a GraviTrax baseplate can often pull the ring off.
DURING STEP 2: Depending on the filament, and especially with textured PEI build plates, it may be difficult to fully insert the ring into the tile base, especially using the ring version 1. I recommend finding an edge of the ring that can be pressed in with your fingers, then work your way around the ring, pressing it in as you go. Sometimes the final corner apex of the ring is impossible to press into the base using your fingers. At that point, just place the tile on the floor or work surface, and push down on the top of the tile, and the final section of the ring will pop into place in the tile base.

I cannot take credit for this great hex ring design. See the remix link for the original. My remix was to turn the design into a module that can be easily inserted into your design. I also slightly increased the ring size from 29.7mm wide to 29.8mm wide for a firmer grip. I recommend 29.8mm as a standard width for GraviTrax rings overall for a good grip that is like LEGO_.