PointlessToys - BallCube

PLT - BallCube

BallCube is my first design for PointlessToys. These are toys that have no meaning whatsoever. But maybe they are fun to play with :)

BallCube is a ball within a cube that can be moved with a handle using the thumb and the fingers. This toy is printed as one object. The ball needs initially some force to be moved, but this will get smoother really quick.

There are several different shapes that can be printed. In the OpenSCAD-file you can define the different shapes with the variable bodytype or by using the customizer. There is also an option to produce a slide for the bodyshapes tshape and tshapebig that enabled you to remove the ball from the cube without breaking it, even when using PLA or PETG filament. The shapes are named to slightly reflect the pattern of the possible movement of the handle. You can even define how many handles you want to have on the ball. The default is one, but you can also have one handle on top and one handle at a side or even on the other side of the ball. This may make sense with the bodyshape zigzag6 - or no sense at all. Its up to you to decide :)

The pointy edges that occur, when an edge of the cube is on its own are softened by removing the 90 degree cuts. The overall cube also has smooth edges so that it lays comfortable in the hand.

I like printing this with silk PLA filament, since this is very smooth in the hand. Printing it with TPU is possible, but it slides better with PLA or PETG. TPU on the other hand gives the possibility to remove the ball from the cube without breaking anything.

The size is 3 cm since this is big enough that i can handle it and small enough for the agility of my thumb. But you can print it in whatever size you like. The calculations in the OpenSCAD file will scale everything so that it will be working with other sizes too.

"With this your thumb is busy and you don't have to worry about him" (free citation of a child playing with it)