GATETRIX V1 / LIGHTRIX V1 modular gate system for Tiny Whoop by gerdfranz

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

GATETRIX / LIGHTRIX - 3D printed modular Tiny Whoop gate System
RELEASE VERSION
Update 26.11.2016:
Added two new pieces, which are supposed to give your gate structure more stability:
connector_straight_circle_legs_stronger_version.stl
base_stand_connector_for_use_with_rods_stronger_version.stl
Also released GATETRIX V2 (a different/new design concept)http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1917733
Update 19.11.2016:
Created new Version of the straight rod extender (with a little hinge). Helps securing the extenders when mounting them upside down. The length has also been slightly modified (it's a bit smaller now). I suggest to use the new Version from now on. A V2 for the circle extender is available too.
Gatetrix V2 is coming soon.
21.08.2016: RELEASE VERSION - The System state no longer is "work in progress". Many tests have been made and the system now is considered as a release version.
I would be pleased to see your gate creations in the make section.
Developed for easy and quick printing. Optimized for 200x200mm print surface. Only a few parts need support structures (Rod extenders and the flag base connector). All (almost) connectors can be printed without Support. Just be sure to place the pieces correctly onto the print bed. You printer should be able to print bridges quite well (however, the gaps which have to be filled are quite small (aprox. 5mm).
At the moment there are about 30 different pieces available. You can send me further ideas via PM. For construction of standard shape gates (square/circle), there are only a few different rods/connectors needed. The other pieces are optional for creative people to build more complex gate structures. I've built a 1,80m (aprox. 6ft) high gate structure (check out the pictures).
Update 07.08.2016:
Since all connector parts have been redesign (longer connector pieces and getting narrower towards the inside, it's easier to fit the rods and connectors together. I heard from many People that the 4.98mm Version fits the best, but you should try it yourself. Different Printer, different precision/fitting.
Printer calibration/Print settings:
The parts need to fit snugly, for keeping the gates together but also providing a easy disassembly.
The usage of different filament colors (altough it's the same material) results in divergent fits. Idealy all parts are printed with the same filament type/color and the same print settings.
The bright filament colors are visible best (white, grey, etc. ). I recommend the usage of PETG. It's strong an flexible and therefore you can be a bit more rough during assembly and it won't brake so easily. Also it is possible to build round shaped gates with rods only, due to their certain flexibility (check out the pictures).
All here shown parts were aprox. 1100g filament and were printed in about 48 hours (0.3mm layer height, 2 shells, 3 top/bottom layers, 20% infill ... rods can be printed without infill, it's quicker but also not as tough and will cost you the flexibility).
The system is modular and extendable. It's quickly assembled and disassembled. It can be stored place saving. Due to the modular plug/connector system you can get creative by creating your own obstacles/gates/whatever.
The gates are visible very good with white/grey color filament by themselves. With the extenders the visibility gets even better of course and you get the ability to mount modular LED Systems (check out the pictures).
Have fun
Update History:
22.08.2016:
With just one new connector piece (flag_base_connector_for_use_with_rods) and already existing pieces, we get awesome huge (80-100cm) illuminated flags!
21.08.2016:
Added a new connector which enables you to use straight rods as base/legs (base_stand_connector_for_use_with_rods.stl). The 19cm base connector is ok for small gates, but if getting bigger the gate will fall, therefore this improvement. Works great, because the connectors for the leg rods are angled slightly, so there's tension created which gives the gates perfect stability.
Added a new Version of the cable router for easier routing cables, when working with a LED System.
Removed some obsolete parts.
07.08.2016:
Redesigned all connector pieces (extended the connectors by 3mm and the inside is now getting narrower towards the inside (1,5° angle). This should give you a good and snug fit.
05.08.2016: Redesigned the straight connector. The new one (V2) is a little bit longer (had issues with to loose fitting rods pushing each other out of place) and the most important thing: The inside of the connectors is slightly angled (getting narrower towards the middle). This improvements addresses the fitting tolerance issue which printers have (with different Filaments). So with the new connectors alls of my rods from almost 7 different Filament Colors fit together well. I've also added a V3 straight connector which is supposed to be used with very flexible Filaments like Ninjaflex which eleminates the tolerance issue completely. The shells simply are a little bit thicker.
Also added a variety of connectors with additional angled connectors, which for example can be used to connect gate shapes with different heights for more stability and to create a tunnel type gate (check out the pictures).
I also discovered that it's possible to form a gate only consisting of rods (see the pictures). So with Filaments which have a flexible property (not Flex Filament), you can simply bend the gate to the desired shape. PETG works great. ABS should work to. PLA should be to brittle for this.
Enjoy!
03.08.2016: Added new shape rod (eighth circle) with extender element. Needs 8 pieces for a whole circle and is quite bigger than the quarter circle Version. Also added another connector (straight connector with leg hole and additional connector (angled). Also added another cable router with a bigger hole.
27.07.2016: Added 5 new connector pieces (straight connector with leg hole and additional connectors)
(The following was written on the first release and should be obsolete due to the new connector design. I'll leave it however to let people be aware of the possible fitting issues and how to resolve them)
Originally the pieces where developed for the 5.00mm rod version. Then I went out of filament and had to use a different color (same material).
The result was, that the rods didn't fit snugly into the connectors anymore with the 5.0mm version rods. Therefore I made 6 further variants (4.97mm, 4.98mm, 4.99mm, 5.01mm, 5.02mm, 5.03mm). The 4.98mm variant was perfect with the other filament color.
You possibly can adjust the result by altering the flow factor as well.
In all cases you should be sure your printer is calibrated correctly (Extruder/Jerk/Acceleration) and make a test print with a straight connector and the 6 rod variants, so you can tell which one fits the best.