The Claw - Multiboard overlapping panel

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, I have printed and put up a few of these now and think they are pretty good, and look pretty neat installed. Still looking to get some feedback.

I have provided a set of 8x8 “Claw” connector tiles. There is a core tile to be used in the middle of any layout which can be repeated as you like. Then there are custom tiles for each corner and edge. The corners you only need one of each. The edges you need enough for you pattern dimension - 2 (e.g for a 4x4 tile wall you need 2 of each edge. The way I think of it is the claws are over to the north and to the east, or up and right. They are under south and west, or down and left. The corners get claws to the NE and SW but are blank to the NW and SE.

Note multiboard threads are not quite symmetrical, so it won't work if you flip one tile over, keep track of which side is down (to the bed).

More options to come (possibly).

See a video of the strength of a tile set connected with the claw: 

Construction:

Bolt together with a t-bolt in each “claw”, or with standard bolts, t-nuts, or any of the holey bolts here. With the panels aligned correctly the bolt should drive in and hold them exactly aligned.

My preferred way is to put the holey bolts in each corner where a claw overlaps and tighten that joint up by adding a standoff on the back, so 12 in total for a 3 tile by 3 tile layout. This should get all the joints nice and tight and it's pretty stiff already. Then from the back insert the short t-nuts to really bring everything together. The video is in this state and you can see just how strongly it is connected. Then I mount it with a screw through each holey bolt, and a regular snap in each corner (so just 4 total for any size layout). The photos of the tiles mounted on the ikea besta are mounted like that.

Mounting:

Use a regular (6.25mm offset) snap in each corner, and use a “bolt with hole” for as many of the claws as you want - one in each corner seems nice. That way a 3x3 tile install is only 16 bolts / or drywall anchors, or whatever.

Edits:

14 May 2025:

• added a custom t-nut that is the correct size to insert from the back and remain flush (or below) the surface, in line with the new flush snaps. also included is a tool to insert them because there are a lot (if you want each hole held together) and they are small and hurt.
• added 12mm flat bolt, standoff, and cap that is a better length for the new dimensions, they should allow flush mounting with the 6.25mm offset snaps.
• added a couple of tiles that I needed (for mounting on a full ikea besta door, basically a column of 8 height but only 7 wide.

Printing:

It is a challenging print, especially the tips of any downward facing claws, however I am getting a very low failure rate. Use mouse ears and set the angle so that they generate on all the claws (both up and down facing - they are needed for both bed adhesion/stability during print and to stop warping).