ft-parts/README.md

FT-Parts

Customizable OpenSCAD descriptions of fischertechnik parts.

This collection does not try to rebuild all fischertechnik parts but focuses on parts where it makes sense to customize them to get some variations of standard parts.

Most of the 3D printble designs of fischertechnik parts come either with only the STL files or, if parameterizable, with a FreeCAD design. STL files can only be changed as a whole, either shrinked or enlarged.

FreeCAD is a powerful tool but somehow complicated, even if accessing the page for the parameters is quite simple. Any change of other things means that you have to do some kind of CAD construction tasks...

That's where OpenSCAD comes into play: for a programmer like me it much easier to change some variables or code to adopt the code to my needs. Anyhow, there is a small difference: some of the original parts have chamfered edges while others don't have them. I decided to build all of the parts without the chamfered edges.
But hey, the source is here, feel free to add them ...

The fischertechnik parts in this repository are divided into files each representing a more or less unique kind of building unit. The only exception is the file ft-util.scad which provides some basic parts which are reused in the other files.

The following files are provided:

• buildingblocks.scad
  • Standard building blocks which can be customized by length, the number of pins/grooves on the top and bottom and whether a center hole is used. In addition to the standard blocks a 15 x 7.5 block with customizable length is provided.
  • Standard angle blocks which can be customized with the angle and the number of pins (0 or 1).
  • Symmetrical angle blocks which can be customized with various parameters.
• plates.scad
  • A base plate with a grid of holes for the pins of the basic building blocks. See section "Options for the base plate" for the parameters that can be changed. This is a configurable version of Art.-No. 32985, the base plate 258x186
  • A resizable bottom plate with flat grooves. Length and width of the plate may be configured by changing the values in the section "Plate options" This is a configurable version of Art.-No. 32859, the bottom plate 30x90
  • A resizable plate with holes to be combined with structural design components like angle girders and struts. This plate has the option of a thinner area in the center of one side of the plate. This is a configurable version of Art.-No. 35431 the plate 90x90
  • A configurable version of the mounting plates. It is possible to configure the length and width of the plate, the position of the pins and even 15x15 mm holes in the plate by setting a matrix describing the layout. Each element in the matrix describes a 15x15 plate which are finally combined into one big plate.
• girders.scad
  • Angle girders with a customizable length, height and width. If the height or width are greater than the 15mm basic block size, the corresponding side of the girder has a row of eyelets every 15mm. The sides both have flat grooves (the original angle girder has a flat groove on one side and a pin on the other side). If the width is greater than 15mm then there are grooves every 15mm.
  • U-Girders with a customizable length and width.
• struts.scad
  • i-struts (struts with a length which is a multiple of the basic building block (15 mm)). i-struts may or may not have additional eyelets every 15 mm.
  • x-struts with predefined length corresponding to the fischertechnik original struts.
  • x-struts with any length to connect other diagonal distances than the standard x-struts. The scad file contains a table for this.
• lugs.scad Provides a number of lugs to connect the struts with each other. The length of the lugs is configurable. I addition to the fischertechnik lugs there are an Y-shaped lug with a configurable angle and an angle lug with a configurable angle between the main lug and the attached one.
  • Connecting strip
  • L-shaped lug
  • T-shaped lug
  • X-shaped lug
  • Star-shaped lug
  • Y-shaped lug
  • Angle lug
• ft-gears.scad
  Gears with the fischertechnik standard modulus 1.5 or 0.5 and with 10,15,20,30 and 40 teeth. Can be set to any other values if required. They are:
  • Solid or optimized
  • With a round hole or a hole for a clip axle
  • Single gear or stacked with a smaller gear (no clip axle when stacked)
• flexrail.scad
  Flexrails with a customizable height. The pins are not part of the flexrail to make it possible to print the rails without support. Instead of the pin there is a cutout where the pin can be glued in if required.
  • Straight flexrail with a customizable length and height.
  • Circular flexrail with acustomizable radius and angle.
  • A number of pins for the flexrail ends,
• ft_28BYJ-48.scad
  A small collection of parts for the 28BYJ-48 stepper motor.
  • A housing for the stepper. The stepper becomes quite warm, so no backplate to close the housing is supplied.
  • A gear with modulus 1.5 and 15 teeth.
  • A coupler for clip axles.