This is a major revision of my previous dodecahedron. Pegs are now threaded with ridges to keep them in place. Living hinges allow the panels to fold into shape and snap features lock them together.
Over 100 of these dodecahedrons have been found throughout western and central Europe, many centered around France. Generally made of copper alloy and showing few signs of wear, they do not have an obvious explanation. Tool, toy, game, decorative object, superstitious cult object, or maybe even a test of skill for metalworkers to enter a guild have all been proposed.
Tips:
+ Alignment: The two halves align only one way, note picture
+ Print Bed: Clean for best results. As all external faces were touching the print bed, this could be an interesting use of a textured or holographic surface.
+ Pegs: Print 20x. Consider adaptive layer heights. Note small initial cross section and print accordingly.
+ Material Selection: I used PLA, but other plastics may work better with the living hinge. Using materials stiffer than standard PLA will make the clips tougher to assemble.
+ Color Restoration: Gentle heat gun on the living hinges may restore original color.
+ Assembly: If a hinge breaks, you can still successfully assemble this. The clips are a very tight fit, as needed because of space constraints and so the pegs do not force the edges apart. If you are having trouble, gently file away a bit of material on the clips or try a few tiny droplets of oil. Scaling up will make the clips tougher to assemble.
Keenan
