Fully 3D Printed Fidget Cube

Fidgeting is something that many of us have or probably would do if we're nervous bored or feeling anxious about something. However, there aren't many easy ways to deal with your fidgeting. In this Instructable, I will guide you through how to 3D print and assemble a working fidget cube. All the parts of this fidget cube can be 3D printed and requires no extra hardware for assembly. If required, you can pop out current features on the cube and put new or the same features in, making this cube modular as well as expandable. This fidget toy can also make a great gift for somebody.

Tools and Materials:

-The STL Files for 3D Printing (You'll find them in the next step)

-Filament for 3D printing

-A 3d printer but if you don't own one or don't have access to one, you can use 3D Hubs instead

(https://www.3dhubs.com/)

-A slicing program, I use Cura because it is very easy to use and best of all, it's free

(https://ultimaker.com/en/products/cura-software)

-Superglue or Hot Glue

-A Hot Glue Gun (A low temperature glue gun is ideal)

-Glue Sticks for a hot glue gun

-Various types of Sandpaper

-Needle Nose Pliers

-Scissors

-Jeweller's files

-1 large Paper Clip

All the parts were designed in Fusion 360 and were completed in a total of 4 days. It should take no more than 9 hours total to print the parts. Firstly, you have to find the files from my Thingiverse account here: (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1977747)

After downloading all the files, load them into your slicing software. Below, you will find the file names and the settings that I recommend for each part.

Fidget Cube Frame.stl

Quantity Needed: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Print Settings

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Wall Thickness: 0.4-0.8

Top/Bottom Thickness:0.7

Infill:10-20%

Speed: 50-60mm/s

Build Plate Adhesion: None

Supports: Yes, set to "everywhere" in cura

Fidget Disc.stl

Quantity Needed: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Print Settings

Layer Height: 0.2mm

Wall Thickness: 0.4-0.8

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.9

Infill: 5-10%

Speed: 50mm/s

Build Plate Adhesion: Doesn't Matter

Supports: No

Rev1 Joystick Backplate.stl

Quantity: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Print Settings

Layer Height: 0.2

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.7

Infill:10%

Bulid Plate Adhesion: Brim

Supports: No

Joystick Ball.stl

Quantity: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Layer Height: 0.1-0.2mm

Wall Thickness:0.4-0.8

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.7

Infill: 0-10%

Build Plate Adhesion: Brim

Supports: No

Joystick Faceplate.stl, Spinning Disc Faceplate.stl, Thumb Rest Plate.stl, Keychain Faceplate.stl, Fidget Wheels Faceplate.stl, 9x9 Buttons Face Plate.

Quantity: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Layer Height: 0.1-0.2mm

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.8

Infill: 10-25%

Build Plate Adhesion: Doesn't matter

9X9 Buttons.stl

Quantity: 1

Material: Flexible or PLA. Note: If printed in PLA, buttons will have little or no flex to them.

Layer Height: 0.2-0.25mm

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.7

Infill: 0-10%

Fidget Wheels Spinners.stl

Quantity: 5

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Layer Height:0.1-0.25

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Infill: 7-10%

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.8

Build Plate Adhesion Type: None

Disc Lock.stl

Quantity: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PET, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Layer Height: 0.25

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Infill: 7-10%

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.8

Build Plate Adhesion: None

Joystick Thumbstick

Quantity: 1

Material: PLA, ABS, PETG, PETG, PLA PRO/PLA+

Layer Height: 0.2

Wall Thickness: 0.4

Infill: 10%

Top/Bottom Thickness: 0.7

Build Plate Adhesion Type: None

The total number of parts you should have afterwards is 19. Please also note that every printer is different and you may need to adjust your settings accordingly.

For this step you need the following:

-1x Thumb-stick (Image 1)

-1x Joystick Ball (Image 2)

-1x Joystick Back plate (Image 3)

-1x Joystick Face Plate (Image 4)

-Hot Glue Sticks and a Glue Gun

-Sandpaper

-Jeweller's Files

1. Attach the thumb-stick to the joystick ball with only a little hot glue or superglue. Refer to image 7 if you need help.

2. You need to now sand the ball of the joystick with 80 grit sandpaper, 120 grit, then lastly 320. You can wash off any dust under a tap.

3. Next, slide the joystick through from the back of the face plate and refer to image 5 to verify that you've done it correctly.

4. Push the joystick backplate through the holes until the joystick has a little but not too much friction when it is moved. If the backplate does not fit, file it down with some jeweller's files and try again. Keep adjusting until you are satisfied with the result. Put little dabs of hot glue on the back and file off the excess tabs to make it flush with the front of the faceplate. You should end up with a free-moving joystick that doesn't get stuck.

You have now completed the joystick assembly. The rest of the pieces that need to be completed are quite simple.

For this step you will need:

-1x Fidget Disc

-1x Disc Lock

-1x Spinning Disc Face Plate

-Hot Glue Sticks and Hot Glue Gun

-Sand Paper

-Jeweller's Files

1. First, you need to file down the inner circle on the faceplate very slightly so that there will be no friction when the disc is turned.

2. Attach the Disc Lock to the back of the faceplate. (Image 5)

3. Put a small amount of hot glue or superglue onto the top of the disc lock as shown in image 6.

4. Press the Disc onto the disc lock and hold it until the glue is dry. You should now test to see if your disc moves freely by spinning it in a circular motion. If the disc does not spin freely, lubricate the underside with a few drops of vegetable oil. Set this part aside and let's move to the next step.

For this step you will need:

-5x Fidget Wheels (Image 1)

-1x Fidget Wheel Face Plate (Image 2)

-Superglue or hot glue with a glue gun

-Jeweller's files

-Scissors

-Paper Clip

1. Firstly, file down the inside slots of the face plate very slightly to accommodate for the wheels.

2. Next, get some 80 grit sandpaper and sand the faces of the wheels down to make sure it's smooth.

3. Thread one wheel onto the paper clip and put it into the slot. Push another wheel onto the paper clip while it's inside the slot and repeat until you have the wheels in all five slots.

4. Cut off the excess paper clips and secure the ends of the paper clips to the face plate using hot glue (Image 6 and 7). Ensure that the wheels can moves freely without any friction. If they cannot move smoothly, lubricate the paper clip with drops of vegetable oil or silicone oil.

You will require the following for this step:

-1x 9X9 Button printed in flexible filament.

-1x 9X9 Button Face plate

-Superglue or hot glue with a glue gun

-Jeweller's files

1. File down the inside circles of the face plate until the buttons fit perfectly.

2. Snap the buttons into place and secure with hot glue in each of the corners of the flexible buttons.

For this step you need:

-1x Fidget Cube Frame (Image 1)

-All the parts you assembled in the previous steps

-Hot glue gun

-Sandpaper

-Needle nose pliers

1. Remove the fidget cube frame from your build platform and trim off supports with a pair of needle nose pliers. Then, file down any rough edges that are on the print.

2. Take a piece of your choice that you've assembled (I chose the 9x9 button assembly) and snap it into the cube gently being careful not to damage either print. In each of the corners, put a little bit of hot glue but don't get it on the rest of the frame. Repeat this step for each assembled piece until you have only one assembly left. Note: It doesn't matter where you put the assembled pieces. Just experiment and have fun with it.

3. For the very last remaining assembled piece, just snap it into place without securing it with hot glue.

That's it, you are officially finished with your fidget cube! Some things that I personally would have done differently is making sure that all the panels sit flush with the rest of the frame when they are assembled because a few of them were not. in terms of future expand-ability of the fidget cube, I will do my best to try posting designs of new features or you could even design your own. If you end up making one, please post a picture either in the comments or on thingiverse. Follow, like, or vote for me in the contests if you think I deserved it. Thanks you for reading!