Children's Learning Toy - Magnetic Sticks

This model is one from my extensive Children's Toys Collection.

The Magnetic Sticks Toy is an item that can be used to explain the behavior of magnets to children in a playful way.

The design is made so that the three sticks can only be inserted into their respective slots.
Magnets within the block and the sticks hold them together and provide a lot of fun. Additionally, the sticks are well stored when the toy is not in use. And last but not least: My grandson discovered that the magnetic bottom of the block, along with the sticks, sticks perfectly to all sorts of objects.

Of course, you can also print and use the toy without magnets if you don't have suitable magnets at the moment.

Here's what you need for that:

• You need 6 magnets with a diameter of 10mm and a height of 5mm.
  I can recommend this set of 25 magnets. (If you find equivalent magnets in a smaller set, even better.) These are really extremely strong neodymium magnets. Classified as N52, currently the strongest commercially available type.
  I have designed the magnet slots with a tolerance. Two 3mm magnets or three 2mm magnets can be used instead of one 5mm magnet.
   
• Additionally, you will need some super glue to secure the magnets in place during the printing process.

!!! Please read the following printing information carefully before you start. !!!

Printing information

All STL files are correctly aligned.

Sticks

Layer height: 0.20
Perimeter: 4
Infill: 20%
Support: none

Caps and Block

Layer height: 0.20
Perimeter: 2
Infill: 10%
Support: none

Print the matching sticks and caps in the same color. Later, glue the caps onto the block.
 
To insert the magnets during printing, define in the slicer print pauses as follows:

• Block: at Layer #44 (8.80 mm)
• Sticks: at Layer #407 (81.40 mm)

During printing, you may insert magnets into the designated slots during the print pauses.

In this regard, three things must be taken into consideration:

1. All magnets must be secured with super glue before you resume printing. Otherwise, the magnets will be pulled out of the slot by the metallic nozzle when the print head moves over it again.
   Take sufficient time during a print pause. Your printer is patiently waiting.
   
   I used the following procedure:
   
   
   • At the beginning of the print pause, first apply one drop of super glue into the slot.
      
   • Then insert the magnet into the slot.
     Pay attention to the correct alignment of the magnet (see below).
      
   • Wait at least one minute for the glue to set. The duration naturally depends on the super glue being used.
      
   • Only then resume printing.
      
2. In the Block, you will place three magnets quite close to each other. Eliminate the risk of two adjacent magnets attracting each other during insertion.
   I proceeded from left to right for this. First, I inserted the first magnet and waited for two minutes. When inserting the second magnet, I placed a piece of cardboard between them, just in case the second magnet is attracted to the first one during insertion. At least the cardboard prevents the two magnets from coming together and then being difficult to separate. Do the same for the third magnet.
    
3. Pay attention to the correct alignment of the magnets.
   I recommend preparing the magnets in the correct arrangement before starting the printing process.

I am looking forward to your Makes! :-)

If you like this design, feel free to check out my others here.