Four-player chess, also known as Four-handed, is a variant of traditional chess that involves four players on a board with four different sets of pieces. The objective of the game is the same as traditional chess, which is to checkmate the opponent's king. We chose this game because it is a typical two player strategical thinking game that has been around forever. Our version of chess utilizes peculiar shapes out of the norm from regular playable chess characters. Today, 4-player chess remains a popular variant of the game, with many different variations and rule sets available. The game has also been adapted to online platforms and computer programs, making it accessible to players around the world.

Supplies

PLA plastic (play pieces)

Wood (board)

Paint and spray paint

3D printer

Laser cutter machine

Pencil

Paper

Ruler

Step 1: Draft Sketch for Board

Gather your materials: You'll need a pencil, eraser, ruler, and a piece of paper.

Draw the outline: Use a ruler to draw a square on your paper that is at least 12 inches by 12 inches. This will be the overall outline of your 4-player chess board, evenly distributed 8×8 square with an additional 3 rows of 8 cells extending from each side (190)

Divide the board into four equal quadrants. Each quadrant should be the same size as a traditional chess board, with 8 squares by 8 squares.

Add lines: Use your ruler to draw lines connecting the points where the circle intersects with the edges of each quadrant. This will create four diagonal lines that divide the board into four equal sections.

Refine your sketch: Once you've drawn the basic elements of your 4-player chess board, refine the sketch by erasing any unnecessary lines and adding shading or texture to make it more visually appealing.

Enjoy your sketch: With your sketch complete, you can now use it as a reference when building your 4-player chess board or as a visual aid when explaining the game to others.

Note: Feel free to adjust the size and shape of your board as needed, based on your preferences and available materials.

Step 2: Export for Laser Machiene

Choose your wood: Select a piece of wood that is at least 24 inches by 24 inches in size. This will give you enough space to create a board that can accommodate four players.

Use Autodesk 360 to create design for your 4-player chess board. The board should be divided into four equal quadrants, with each quadrant having its own set of chess pieces.

Red outline is where the outline of the board will be cut, and the blue squares represent the inscribe the placeholder spots for game pieces.

Apply a wood finish of your choice to protect the board from moisture and damage. This can include varnish, stain, or paint.

Add chess pieces: Once the board is complete, you can add chess pieces for each player. Make sure to choose pieces that are easy to distinguish from each other and match the theme of your board.

Step 3: Extruding and Creating Play Pieces

Choose the design: First, you'll need to decide on a design for your chess pieces. There are many designs available online, including traditional and modern styles. You can also design your own pieces using 3D modeling software.
Prepare the 3D model: Once you have your design, you'll need to prepare the 3D model for printing. This involves importing the design into slicing software, which will convert it into a series of layers that the 3D printer can print.
Load the filament: Load the filament (the material that will be used to print the chess pieces) into the 3D printer. Make sure to use the correct type of filament for your printer.
Remove the finished pieces: Once the print job is complete, carefully remove the chess pieces from the printer bed.
Post-process: Depending on the quality of your print, you may need to do some post-processing to clean up any rough edges or imperfections. This can include sanding, painting, or other finishing techniques.
Assemble and enjoy: Once you've cleaned up the pieces, you can assemble your chess set and start playing!