Fandom Chess (Tinkercad)

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Intro: Fandom Chess (Tinkercad)

In this instructable we are going to design a simple, 3d printable 'fandom' chess set using Tinkercad.

I will use The Avengers as an example but you can choose whatever you love.

Lets get started :)

STEP 1: Choose Your Symbols

Before we can design the chess set you need to choose 6 symbols or logo pictures that we can use as your chess pieces. These will become your King, Queen, Bishop, Castle, Knight and Pawn pieces.

It is best to choose simple pictures as you will have to print them quite small.

I chose Black Widow, Captain America, Hulk, Ironman, Hawkeye and Thor.

I also choose the general Avengers symbol to be the base of my pieces.

Once I had decided I converted the pictures into svgs using a free online file converter.

https://image.online-convert.com/convert-to-svg

Right now lets get the symbols into Tinkercad and design our chess set.

STEP 2: Create Your Main Pieces

Open Tinkercad and create a new design

Import the box file attached and then import your logo/symbol svgs

If you chose to use a symbol for the base of your chess pieces import that too, if not decide on one of the Tinkercad shapes to use as a base.

Attach your first logo/symbol to your base, align them and group them.

Now move the piece to the box and resize the piece so that it will fit snuggly into the box - approximately 18mm x 44mm x 13mm for the main pieces.

Repeat this with the other main pieces.

Now create your pawn with the remaining logo/symbol and size it to fit the smaller hole (I used Thor). You can either use the piece alone or choose a small base using a Tinkercad shape (I used a rectangle).

Export all yourpieces as stl files.

We have made our chess pieces - now lets make the box lid

STEP 3: Designing the Lid

Choose a picture or logo that is relatively long and thin in shape and convert it to an svg - you can go for something more complicated here as it will be printed on a larger scale than the pieces.

Upload the svg and the blank lid file into Tinnkercad.

Resize the picture so that it fits within the lid shape and make it 4mm high.

Place it where you would like it to be on the lid and group the two together.

Your lid is completed, remember to export the stl file.

STEP 4: Slice and Print

Import your pieces into your slicer of choice (I used Prusaslicer)

For one full set you need

1 x King

1 x Queen

2 x Knight

2 x Bishop

2 x Castle

8 x Pawn

Slice and print using your normal settings.

Import your box and lid into your slicer and do the same - if you want your lid decoration to show up include a filament change for the lid - need help with this? Let me know I can help :)

STEP 5: Time to Play Chess

How about a game of Avengers against Mandalorian or Harry Potter?

Do you need a board? Print two of the board files attached in different colours and slot them together to complete the set. :)

3 Comments

These are all fun designs! Do you have a picture of the sets set up?
What a great idea for custom chess sets :D