Floating book shelf / invisible bookshelf / magic bookshelf / floating books shelfs

In the pictures I only used one shelf (base) for each book stack.

• Correct print orientation is crucial for stability, more below.

My Girlfriend needs a new bookshelf every month and she wanted to try an invisible one, so I over-engineered one.

The Over-engineered Magic Bookshelf 

Just print the magic bookshelf base and the recommend 5mm book back cover clip for a magic bookshelf - and you get a relatively stable, not bending but upgradable result without having to reprint. 
If it bends there is even more magic in store:

• Rubber pieces tip
• The leveler book for magic bookshelf
  • How to print
• Stabilizer(s) for magic bookshelf
  • How to print
• The book for magic bookshelf (If you use a stabilizer)
  • How to print

Just take a look at the instructions under the How to print the base part section.

If you want the most stable result, use the rubber pieces tip together with a stabilizer.

How to print the base part and the Book back cover clip(s)

- please read before printing!

*I used PETG, PLA should also work but it can break earlier depending on the composition of the PLA, check your grade beforehand. 
ABS  should be the strongest but I can't print ABS with my printer in order to test it, so if you do, test it to the limit please and post some fotos!

magic bookshelf base

• If your slicer has a print preset optimized for strength, you should use this and generate with the following settings, if not it is important not to use a draft mode.
• Fast Printer? Lower Print speed!
  • For Bambu Lab printers is the strengths preset in BambuStudio sufficient, which reduces the print speed. 
• Place it as in the picture below, this is crucial for stability!
• 0.2mm layers
• Perimeters / Walls: 6
• Use a thick Brim, you don't want a failed print due to sticking problems after some printing time. I recommend a 25mm Brim
• Infill: Grid 25% (there is almost nothing to fill in)
• Support: The magic bookshelf base is designed so that it needs no support but there is a small overhang which is difficult for some printers or filaments. If you want to be on the safe side, set support On for everywhere and set the overhang threshold to 5 (five degrees) (Advanced settings in PrusaSlicer)
• After slicing it should look like this:

Book back cover clip(s) for magic bookshelf

• Same settings as before
• A 5mm Brim or no Brim is sufficient
• Place it as in the picture below, this is the most stable solution for printing without a support
• After slicing it should look like this:

• If your book cover does not fit, there are different versions available. Also a thicker one in case the thinner clip isn't strong enough.
• Read the tips below for the best result.
• If you want the most stable result, use the rubber pieces tip together with a stabilizer.

I would be delighted to see pictures of your results!

More Magic:

Rubber pieces tip

Are your books tilting forward?

By placing small pieces of rubber on the edge of the spine, the books slip less and compensate for the curvature of the book. (Anti-slip mat on amazon)

This works of course also with hard cover books!

The leveler book for magic bookshelf

Don't have any rubber pieces to hand? Try using folded paper or the leveler book for magic bookshelf:

How to print:

• Print without support - Your slicer may recommend that you use support, but this works without.
• Use what ever print settings you want. I used 0.2mm layers, 9% line infill and PLA-Matte for a paper like look.

Stabilizer(s) for magic bookshelf

Do you have hard cover books?

Book stack for which I used the “hard cover stabilizer” and the rubber trick to prevent any tilting from happening

The stabilizer makes it possible to use the stability of the hardcover book to improve the overall stability by pressing the hardcover book tightly against the base (in my case, two very thick books and four normal books were additionally held in place).

The firmer the cover, the better. Old books are particularly suitable here, as they often have thicker covers.

Press the pages of the book firmly together with the back of the book and measure this with a caliper (. Then search in the Stabilizers for magic bookshelf folder for the appropriate stabilizer. 

It is important to press it hard together!

Don't have a caliper? Check this out: https://www.printables.com/de/model/208896-mini-caliper

How to print

• Same print settings as for the magic bookshelf base
• Same Filament you used for the magic bookshelf base (I used PETG)
• Brim: 5mm
• Enable supports
• Place it on its side as shown in the picture below. This is particularly important to achieve a stable result.
• After slicing it should look like this:

Read following section while printing, : “the book for magic bookshelf”. This is very important if you use the stabilizer.

The book for magic bookshelf (If you use a stabilizer)

The stabalizer can cause the following books to tilt faster, to prevent this you can use a soft cover book. 
This solution only works to a limited extent. I prefer to use another piece of rubber here (possibly several at this point).
But if you don't have a piece of rubber available, you can print the book for magic bookshelf.

It looks like this:

How to print:

• Print without support - Your slicer may recommend that you use support, but this works without.
• Use what ever print settings you want. I used 0.2mm layers, 9% line infill and PLA-Matte for a paper like look and you can paint it easily if you want!

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Have fun with the Magic Bookshelf! If you want to share yours, please do!

If you wanna follow my girlfriend's bookstagram account, feel free to do so: https://www.instagram.com/dasbuchrefugium?igsh=MXRpdW1odTUycHNzYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Check out my other models!: https://www.printables.com/de/@Dubios_1073026

If you like my work, please feel free to support it with a small tip, I can never have enough filament and good coffee to help me with prototyping: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dubios or https://ko-fi.com/dubios

 

Future plans:

• A small angle adapter for the place of the book cover clip to further improve stability for those who place this shelf so that you cannot see the bottom