June 3, 2025
Description
Perfect as a desk companion or a gift for your fellow printing geeks.
UPDATED 5/27/2025: Completely reworked joints, improved snapping points, and made dimensions more realistic.
Snapping points
One of the unique aspects of designing a model to be printed as a kit card is the temporary connections, or "snapping points" that need to be added to keep the card together before it is assembled. Normally, this is accomplished by adding a small connection that runs along the build plate. While this method works fine, it requires cutters to separate the parts, and can often leave sharp edges where the plastic is cut.
My improved method takes advantage of 3d printed plastic's tendency to snap along layer lines to make connectors that snap of easily, cleanly, and without needing any tools.
Improved snapping point
Joints
Another challenge in making kit cards is that the need for joints. After experimenting with various configurations I found that pressure fit joints only worked when the cylindrical parts could be printed vertically. For the other joints, I went with a clip system where the crosspiece strengthens the main frame and keeps it attached to the base.
License:
Creative Commons — Attribution — Noncommercial