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    Endless Design Blocks | 3D Pattern Blocks | STEM Activity

    ⚠ Safety Disclaimer: Small Parts – See the very bottom of the page for more information.

    See a quick video of the blocks in action here: https://youtu.be/wQ4gPq14N0c

    UPDATE - Want to use a build surface that holds more blocks?? The XL Cubic Build Surface and Dual-Purpose Base are now available and pair nicely with the blocks from this upload! 

    Click here to go to the model page for the new XL Cubic Build Surface: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7324289

    Also…

    Click here for a new type of block that is fully compatible with this set: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7324347

    And…

    For FDM 3D print settings, scroll down to the very, very bottom of this page!

    Anyway…

    This is the first official release in the Endless Design Blocks series, Endless Design Lab's new super-scalable, fractal-inspired building system and geometric art creation tool. All blocks and build surfaces are designed to align naturally using gravity and their geometry alone, with no snapping, locking, or magnets required. They’re perfect for building all sorts of geometric art pieces, sculptural forms, modular tabletop games, jewelry, or whatever else you can come up with. There’s really no right or wrong way to use them!

    Endless Design Blocks is designed to inspire creativity and provide a calming, tactile experience. It’s perfect for anyone who enjoys hands-on activities and especially engaging for those who find comfort in organizing shapes and patterns. It also helps develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, making it a great tool for all ages. These blocks can make excellent toys for kids too. Just be sure to print them at a safe scale in accordance with local safety guidelines.

    Even though this upload is packaged like a kit, the system is totally open-ended. You can scale individual blocks to create new sizes, remix the layout, or expand infinitely in any direction. Want a bigger block? Just double the size of the largest one. Need something smaller? Halve the smallest. To resize the full set, just select everything in your slicer and scale it together to keep everything aligned and cohesive.

    This set includes everything you need to build one of the two structures seen here:

    You’ll get just enough of each block size to recreate the design, plus one extra of each (except for the largest) in case you lose a piece or want to experiment. Everything is pre-arranged on a single plate (256x256mm) for convenience. Just load the file and hit print! If you're using a smaller printer, like the Bambu Lab A1 Mini, no worries. I’ve also included a separate 3MF file with the parts broken into smaller plates for easier printing on compact machines.

    The core piece is a dual-sided block. One side resembles the corner of a cube, while the other is a flat triangular face you can customize in your slicer. I like applying a Hilbert Curve pattern to this surface, but you can use any pattern you like. Printing with tri-color silk or other coextrusion filaments enhances the look of the surface pattern. As a bonus, when printed in this orientation, each face picks up a different color, allowing you to rotate the piece to control how it appears in your final design.

    Alternatively, you can print that flat triangular face with zero bottom shell layers, creating a hollowed-out variation with a completely different look and added functionality. (To do this, make sure you have the sparse infill percentage set to 0%.)

    The set also includes a large triangular build surface for placing your blocks, along with a smaller cube-shaped build surface that serves two purposes. You can use it as its own standalone platform for smaller designs, or simply place the larger triangular surface on top of it for a stable, elevated base. You can print more of either one if you want to expand your layout, stack layers, or create modular displays.

    You’re not limited to using the included build surfaces either. The blocks tile together really nicely in 2D, so you can glue them onto any flat surface and create all kinds of custom patterns or art pieces. That kind of layout also creates interesting pockets and negative space, which gives you plenty of spots to stack more blocks on top and start building into 3D if you want to take it further.

    For your convenience, I've also prepared a 3MF file that includes full plates of extra blocks. These are arranged to fit a 256 × 256 mm build plate (like the Bambu Lab P1P or P1S). If you want even more, you can copy and paste the blocks I’ve already laid out or arrange your own custom plates.

    This is just the beginning. Future sets will introduce entirely new angle systems, block types, and structures that build on what this set starts. Future uploads will also be backwards compatible, almost acting as expansion packs for the series.

    Don't forget to share your designs with me! My hope is for the comment section of this upload to become a hub for all of us to share our favorite Endless Design Block creations. I can't wait to see what you create… The possibilities are truly endless!

    Important License Information:

    This upload is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license.

    You’re free to use it, remix it, and even sell prints or remixes, as long as you give proper credit and share any remix or derivative under the same license. A mention like “Designed by Endless Design Lab” works great, and linking back to the original is even better. You can use this link: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7323010

    Note: Not all Endless Design Blocks uploads will use the same license. Some future sets may come with different terms, especially for more advanced or exclusive designs. Be sure to check the license info on each individual upload.

    This set is shared openly to support creativity, remixing, and community-driven design. If you have any questions about crediting or how to use the designs, feel free to reach out.

    I recommend using the included 3MF files for printing, but here are the settings I used on my Bambu Lab P1P in case you need them:

    FDM Print Settings -
     
    For the main blocks and triangular build surface:

    • Nozzle: 0.4 mm
    • Layer Height: The included 3MF uses 0.2 mm layers. You can also use 0.16 mm for finer detail, though it will take longer to print.
    • Infill: Any pattern or density works. I usually go with 0% to save time and filament. This also works well with the core block variation that uses zero bottom shell layers, as mentioned earlier.
    • Supports: None of the parts in this kit require supports.
    • Bottom Layer Pattern: Choose whatever you like. I recommend the Hilbert Curve, especially with tri-color silk PLA. It creates a clean, geometric look and pairs nicely with the underside of the triangular build surface if you want a unified style.

    Instead of using a bottom layer pattern on the blocks:

    You can print that flat triangular face with zero bottom shell layers, creating a hollowed-out variation with a completely different look and added functionality. (To do this, make sure you have the sparse infill percentage set to 0%.)

    For the dual-purpose cubic build surface/base:

    The same nozzle and layer height apply.
    • Infill: 15%, using Support Cubic. This has worked best for me so far, but feel free to experiment if you find something that performs better.
    • Bottom Layer Pattern: Your choice. I like Archimedean Chords with tri-color silk PLA. It creates a beautiful visual effect that resembles an old CD-ROM.

    If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.

    Enjoy the print, and don't forget to share your creations with me!

    ⚠ Safety Disclaimer: Small Parts – Choking Hazard

    Endless Design Blocks contain small parts that may pose a choking hazard and are not suitable for children under 3 years old. These models are designed primarily for ages 14 and up unless printed at a significantly larger scale.

    If you're printing these blocks for younger users, please scale them up accordingly and supervise play at all times. Improper use or handling may result in injury or ingestion of small pieces.

    Endless Design Lab is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or misuse of these blocks. Always print, handle, and share responsibly.

    Selling physical prints of my other designs is only permitted if you are an active member of my Authorized Seller tier on Patreon, Printables, or MakerWorld. To learn more, visit https://www.patreon.com/c/endlessdesignlab

    Thank you for downloading and supporting Endless Design Lab! 🌀

    Endless Design Lab has many more mind-melting models to be unveiled!

    Please show your support by following me on your favorite platform.
    https://linktr.ee/EndlessDesignLab

    🤝 Want to collaborate?
    📧 Email me at [email protected]