ANY FRACTION Parametric Fraction Blocks For Math Education Fully Customisable Flat

Unlock hands-on fraction learning with these fully parametric 3D printable fraction blocks! Designed in OnShape, this versatile set allows for endless customization, making it perfect for educators, parents, and anyone looking for an engaging, cost-effective math tool.

Key Customizable Configurations Include:

Numerator & Denominator:

Create any fraction bar you need including the ridiculous ones like 9/64, 243/532, or 244/23.  Improper fractions will be bigger than the 1/1 size.

Dimensions:

Width of 1/1: Sets the base width for the whole block.

Depth: Defines the block's depth.

Height: Sets the block's thickness.

Text & Engraving:

TextDepth: Control how deep the fraction text is engraved.

Both sides Text: Choose to have text on both the top and bottom faces.

Bottom TextDepth: Use .05 and Embedded/No Magnets if utilizing bottom text for optimal results.

Bar Size: Adjust the overall scaling of the bars.

Edge Fillet: Control the rounding of the block edges for a smooth finish.

Magnets:

Yes or no: Option to include embedded magnets.

MagnetSpacing: Customize the distance between magnets.

MagnetSize: Define the diameter of the magnets.

Embed Magnet: Choose whether magnets are fully embedded.

Magnet Thickness: Set the thickness of the embedded magnets.

Remove center magnet: Remove the magnets under the fraction, useful for those 1/5 blocks or having non embedded magnets and text on both sides.

Dots for Numerator/Denominator:

Top Dots: Select Standard or Round dot patterns for the top face.

Bottom Dots: Choose Standard or Round dots for the bottom face, especially useful for large denominators.

Notch Size: Adjust the size and spacing of numerator and denominator notches.

Block Tolerance for Fitting into holders: Fine-tune the fit for any custom holders you might design.  One may be designed at a later date.

Override Text

None: Uses the numbers given in Numerator & Denominator

Numerator: Replaces the numerator with the given text in NumeratorText

Denominator: Replaces the denominator with the given text in DenominatorText

Numerator and Denominator: Replaces the numerator and denominator with the given text

Entire Fraction: Replaces the fraction with the given text in EntireText.  Black fraction bars are possible with this setting, though it will have CAD errors.

FontPadding: Padding of the text from top, bottom, and the fraction bar if applicable.

Incompatible features:

Some features are not compatible, like Both sides Text  YES and  Embed Magnet NO with Remove center magnet NO  or Round Dots and 0mm Edge Fillet.  Incompatibilities may not be fixed.

Included Files:

For your convenience, this release includes pre-generated STL and pre-colored 3MF files for common dimensions:

Thickness: 4mm

Depth: 32mm

1/1 Block Width: 200mm

You'll find 5 sets of regular (non-magnetic) fraction blocks and 1 set of magnetic blocks. These files are ready for slicing, but if they don't perfectly match your needs, the full parametric design is available on OnShape for you to edit and customize for whatever you need!  Want it to fit a foot and 1/12 to be an inch, you can do it!

Recommended Printing:

Filament: I recommend PLA+ for larger blocks (1, 1/2) for durability, and any PLA for smaller blocks (1/3 and down).  PETG or ABS should work, but you may not find the verity of colors as you do with PLA and tolerances will likely be different.

Colors: The included 3MF files are pre-colored following a vibrant ROYGBIV rainbow pattern for intuitive learning.

Empower your learning journey with these versatile and free 3D printable fraction blocks!

Infill: Triangles appear to be the most structural as gyroid does not create good contact down the long direction of the block.

Brims: Mouse ear is recommended to prevent warping or using glue.

Precise Wall and X-Y Counter Compensation: This is critical to getting the most accurate tiles.  If not set properly the size will drift ever so slightly, only noticeable when comparing them to other blocks very closely, we are looking at a 1% drift in size.  To calibrate you will need a caliper and try out some X-Y Counter Compensation values it appears that this effects all sides of the object so .1mm will result in a .2mm delta.  Suggested values are .2mm for 1/1 to 1/5 (these are rotated 90 degrees), .1mm for 1/6 to 1/10, and .09 for 1/12 for Anycubic PLA+ filament on a Kobra 3 Max printer.  You compensation values may vary.  Still, the inconisttancy was only at most .23mm for the 1/12 block with an expected width of 16.65mm.  Only 1.4% off.

Optional Parts:

If you want to make it magnetic you will need a round magnet of any size.  Please update the placement as needed.  The provided 3mf and stl files use magnets with diameter of 6mm and thickness of 2mm.

Estimated Cost:

For 1 set of magnetic fraction blocks and 5 sets of regular fraction blocks it will take about 1100g (370m) of PLA filament.  Depending on the cost of your filament it could be between $12 and $22 (Only $2 to $4 per set!), the lower end is likely only for bulk orders of filament, though you will need 12 (for 1/1, ½, ⅓, ¼, ⅕, ⅙, ⅛, ⅑, ⅒, 1/12) colors for the best results.  Much cheaper and better quality than ones you can find on Amazon (unless you account for the 12kg of filament and the printer).  Costs will increase if you print less due to multilateral waste.

It takes on average 5.5 hours to print 6 sets of each block type.  The smaller ones take the most amount of time while the larger ones are faster.  

Coloring tips:

For non embedded magnet versions:

Set base color to be the text color (i.e. white).  Use smart fill with an edge detection of 30% to fill the outer body with the block color you want (i.e. red).  Don't forget any islands like in 6, 8, 9, 0 and sometimes 4.

For embedded magnetic versions:

Do not follow the above instructions as this produces odd geometry as the magnets will have the same color as the text and print structurally worse.  Instead set the base color to the block color (i.e. red) and use smart fill with edge detection of 30% to fill the notches on the sides.  Next set edge detection to 89% (Not 90%) and fill the text and the sides of the text.  If the extrusion is less than .1mm you can ignore the sides as it prints flat.

Colors:

Here are the colors I used, from the Anycubic line up of PLA and PLA+.  They are sorted from high red to low indigo/pink/grey.  PLA+ is recommended for blocks over 70mm long.

Inspired by:

While not a direct copy of their idea, I still think I should credit UschandeLucca's Fraction tiles Stripes for math education.  It expands on their idea and general shape to be more versatile and configurable.  Would it fit in their holder, in theory it should provided the right configuration.  

Future Ideas

Visual impaired:

I would love to add braille to this, but I don't know of any way of converting text to braille in OnShape.  So if you know how please let me know!

Text Rotation:

May be nice to have vertical fraction blocks.

Magnets:

Square magnet support if people want it.

Stacking notches:

Raised dots on the top and indentations on the bottom.  Issue with text getting in the way.

Issues:

Embedded magnets cap badly when sounded by the text color as there is not enough adhesion to the plastic.  This is a minor issue as it is not visible on the outside, just looks bad during the print.

License Notes:

You are not able to sell this item in a store or stand or online in any way.  However, if you have a 3d printer and know some one who can use it I don't mind you charging them for your filament and time, but don't go over twice the cost of the filament.  A seller's license subscription may be in the future.

Remixes may be incorporated in this parametric original with Attribution