Simple piece connector

This is a dead simple connector for 3D printed pieces that relies on friction to hold them together. The male plug and the female inset have the same dimensions (except for the male plug being slightly shorter for a flush fit between pieces). The hollow and open surface of the male plug provides enough flexibility to fit snugly into the female inset, which also allows disassembly with minimal to no damage to the pieces or the plug itself. Printing the connectors upright lets the ridges of the filament assist in locking the pieces reasonably tightly, though this negatively impacts Z-strength. Use it only for cosmetic models.

Since this design relies on the ability of the male plug to lightly flex and adapt to the inset, the dimensions of the hollow part of the plug directly affects the tightness of the fit: The hollower it is, the looser the fit. The profile includes plugs that are 40% and 50% hollow relative to the plug size to test the difference.

Feel free to use the geometry of the model for your personal projects, as this model alone is as useful as a rock :D

It is mainly targeted towards small, cosmetic builds. Personally, I have found it really useful in designs where adding snap connectors with more complex geometry wasn't feasible.