Polypanel System V3
Polypanel System V3
Published 2021-04-13T08:14:40+00:00 • Remixed from Polypanels // Square, Polypanels // Triangle
This system has now been superceeded by a new design (again) Omnipanels.
Overview
This was my second redesign of the polypanel connector system, originally made by Devin Montes. Combined with Internal Panels, you can produce stronger and more complex structures.
This improves on the original system by adjusting the spacing between the two snap connectors. This allows more panels to fit together in more positions, including half and quarter panels.
An extra connector space has been added between the two standard snaps, this allows three panels to be joined at an edge using 'Internal Panels'.
There are also 'Centre Joint' and 'Double Centre Joint' panels which have extra connectors for further reinforcing structures.
Parts
All the standard shapes from the original system are included: square, triangle, rhombus, trapezium, hexagon, and pentagon.
They are available in four different types, ordered by increasing strength: open, solid, Vopen, and Vsolid.
There are also some special types of panel listed below:
Half A/B
Half a square panel. The 'A' variant has snaps at each end which will match up with standard adjacent panels. The 'B' variant does not have the end snaps, useful in situations where the ends of an 'A' panel do not match with adjacent panels.
Half-adapt A/B
Since these panels are not compatible with the standard panels, I have included these half adaptor panels. The A/B variants add/remove the end snaps as above.
Half-flip
Sometimes the connectors can be flipped and do not match up at an edge. To deal with this the half-flip panel can be used with a mirrored connector on one side.
Square CJ
AKA the 'Square Centre Joint', this panel has an extra connector in the centre to join panels in the middle. This is useful for making stronger structures with internal reinforcing panels.
Square DCJ
AKA the 'Square Double Centre Joint', this panel has two extra connectors in the centre set at 90 degrees. This allows even further subdivision and reinforcement in a square based polypanel structure.
Square Q A/B
AKA 'Square Quarter' panels. They effectively double the 'resolution' of the standard squares. The A/B variants have the snaps in different positions which will fit for most situations.
Four A/B panels can be added together in different combinations to effectively make every variation of a standard square panel with standard/flipped connectors on each side.
More details
In some cases it is even possible to connect four panels at an edge with this system by including 'Internal Panels'. This way you are able to make cubic frames, making substantially stronger structures and new shapes. On top of this, the 'Centre Joint' and 'Double Centre Joint' panels can subdivide further and make even stronger structures.
I have also added the Fusion 360 files for all the parts so you can adapt them yourself.
The panels all print like the originals without support material. They are a little tight at first but work well after some use.
Date published | 13/04/2021 |
Support Free | YES |