GridFlock

A gridfinity-compatible baseplate generator for small printer beds. Cuts the base plate into pieces that fit the printer bed and can be linked together using puzzle-style locking connectors.

<div align="center"> <a href="https://gridflock.yawk.at/?utm_source=github&utm_campaign=readme_gridflock_banner"><img src="docs/banner-generator-yawkat.png" width="48%" alt="Official Generator: Advanced Features"></a> <a href="https://gridfinity.perplexinglabs.com/pr/gridflock/0/0"><img src="docs/banner-generator-perplexinglabs.png" width="48%" alt="Perplexinglabs Generator"></a> </div>

An online generator for the latest version version of GridFlock is available here. You can also use the perplexinglabs generator which is a bit more stable. Please also support the model page on Printables.

Similar projects include GridPlates (DMCA'd) and GRIPS, but GridFlock is an independent, open-source, clean-room implementation. My goal is truly open community development. If you are missing a feature that is available in GridPlates or GRIPS, please create a GitHub ticket.

GridFlock uses Gridfinity Rebuilt (under MIT license) for the baseplate cutter.

For inserting magnets, check out the jig.

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/whole.png --camera=0,-10,0,40,0,10,900 -D plate_size='[420, 420]' --> <img src="docs/images/whole.png" alt="Whole plate" /> <!-- openscad -o docs/images/closeup.png --camera=0,30,0,40,0,25,300 -D plate_size='[420, 420]' --> <img src="docs/images/closeup.png" alt="Closeup" />

• GridFlock
  • Connectors
    • Intersection Puzzle
      • Connector Fit
    • Edge Puzzle
      • Connector Height
      • Connector Count
  • Magnets
    • No Magnets
    • Press-Fit magnets
      • Jig
    • Release slot
    • Glued magnets
    • Rounded corner frame
      • Magnet border
    • Solid frame
  • Click Latch
    • ClickGroove
      • Special Bins
      • Gap Length
      • Tab Length
      • Depth
      • Latch Strength
      • Latch Wall Strength
    • Arc Style Latch
      • Length
      • Distance
      • Latch Strength
      • Latch Wall Strength
      • Height
      • Steepness
  • Filler
    • None
    • Integer Fraction
    • Dynamic
  • Corner radius
  • Alignment
  • Custom cell size
  • Solid base
  • Bottom Chamfer
  • Top Chamfer
  • Numbering
    • Squeezed number
  • Plate Wall
    • Top plate wall
    • Bottom plate wall
  • Vertical Screws
    • Screw dimensions
    • Screw locations
      • Plate corners
      • Plate edges
      • Segment corners
      • Segment edges
      • Other intersections
      • Combined
  • Thumb Screw
  • Segmentation
    • Horizontal
    • Vertical
  • Edge Adjustment
    • Shifting the grid
    • Adding empty space
    • Squeezing in extra cells
  • Top Slice
  • Stacked Print
    • Segment Gap
    • Duplicates
    • Flipping
    • Top Slice
  • Cell override
    • Normal cell
    • Solid
    • Empty
    • Irregular Shapes
  • Building from source
  • Why the name?

Connectors

When the plate size exceeds your printer's bed size, GridFlock will split the plate into multiple pieces called 'segments'. To connect these segments, multiple connector designs are available.

Intersection Puzzle

Interactive example

This mode adds small puzzle-style connectors at cell intersections. This is similar to GridPlates and GRIPS, and relatively easy to print. However, in my experience, these connectors can sometimes lead to gaps between the segments. The shape of these connectors is fixed in puzzle.svg and cannot be customized without editing the SVG.

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/intersection-puzzle.png --camera=0,30,0,40,0,25,300 -D plate_size='[420, 420]' --> <img src="docs/images/intersection-puzzle.png" alt="Intersection puzzle" />

Connector Fit

The intersection puzzle connector is intentionally tight to produce a secure fit. It may be necessary to use a mallet or hammer to connect plates.

If the puzzle connector is too tight for your print settings, you can use the intersection_puzzle_fit parameter to produce a looser fit. A value of 0 produces the loosest fit, while 1 is the tightest. Try multiple settings and see which works best for you. Tight fit example (intersection_puzzle_fit=1):

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/intersection-puzzle-tight.png --camera=0,0,0,40,0,25,70 -D plate_size='[84, 84]' -D bed_size='[50, 1000]' -D magnets=false --> <img src="docs/images/intersection-puzzle-tight.png" alt="Intersection puzzle (tight)" />

Loose fit example (intersection_puzzle_fit=0):

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/intersection-puzzle-loose.png --camera=0,0,0,40,0,25,70 -D plate_size='[84, 84]' -D bed_size='[50, 1000]' -D magnets=false -D intersection_puzzle_fit=0 --> <img src="docs/images/intersection-puzzle-loose.png" alt="Intersection puzzle (loose)" />

You can find small grids with different fit values to calibrate on printables.

Edge Puzzle

Interactive example

The edge puzzle mode uses larger connectors placed at the edges of cells, instead of intersections. This leads to a more accurate fit, but is a bit harder to print, and uses more filament.

This connector is a good alternative to the intersection puzzle if the plate has enough vertical height. Try both and see what works best for you. You can also technically enable both at the same time, though I don't know why you would.

• At a segment corner where female connectors are placed on both adjacent sides, the corner could be "cut off" from the rest of the segment. To avoid this, the connector does not use the full height. When not using magnets, this can make the connector quite flimsy.
• To avoid interference with the bin in the neighbouring cell, the male connector has a cutout identical to the bin in that cell. Again, if there is not enough vertical height (no magnets), this can make the male connector flimsy.
• To make the female connectors more sturdy and easier to print, an extra "bar" is added at the magnet level, on those edges where a female connector is placed (only if magnets are enabled). You can see it in the screenshot. With this bar, it may be viable to make the connector full-height and avoid the overhang.
• Unlike the intersection mode, the edge puzzle connectors are highly customizable for your circumstances.

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/edge-puzzle.png --camera=0,30,0,40,0,25,300 -D plate_size='[420, 420]' -D connector_intersection_puzzle=false -D connector_edge_puzzle=true -D magnets=true --> <img src="docs/images/edge-puzzle.png" alt="Edge puzzle" /> <!-- regression tests: --> <!-- openscad -o docs/images/edge-puzzle-clickgroove.png --camera=0,0,0,10,0,10,400 -D plate_size='[168, 168]' -D bed_size='[100,100]' -D connector_intersection_puzzle=false -D connector_edge_puzzle=true -D click=true -D click_style=1 -->

Connector Height

The edge puzzle connector height can be configured using the edge_puzzle_height_female property. The male connector is smaller than this option by edge_puzzle_height_male_delta.

With default settings, the male side of the connector can only be pushed into the female side from below. If you increase the edge_puzzle_height_female to e.g. 10mm, it will use the full height, and the connector can be pushed from both sides.

<!-- openscad -o docs/images/edge-puzzle-full-height.png --camera=0,0,0,40,0,10,200 -D plate_size='[84, 63]' -D connector_intersection_puzzle=false -D connector_edge_puzzle=true -D 'bed_size=[50, 80]' -D magnets=true -D edge_puzzle_height_female=10 --> <img src="docs/images/edge-puzzle-full-height.png" alt="Edge puzzle connector with full height" />

The problem with the full-height connector is that it can lead to unconnected pieces if there is no magnet layer for support. You can see in the below example that the bottom left corner of the top right segment has no connection to the rest of the segment.

<!-- openscad -o docs/imag