This “crisscross style shapelock rod” is a three year old experiment of mine that I just found while browsing my older files.

Note: IIRC clearances need to be adjusted a bit to reduce post processing effort.

It just demonstrates this specific form closure principle.

Beside that it’s not really useful for anything beside noisy rattlesnake fidgeting maybe.

There’s no closing clip for the end.

I just used a bit of transparent adhesive tape (see in the photos).

I created this thing because during my investigations pertaining chains that feature form closure I found the chapmanpuzzles (see links below), and on a whim wanted to recreate this basic structure.

Properties

It’s very weak against tensile load due to printing layer orientation.

Rotating the part for other printing layer orientations just shifts the problem around.

If you want it stronger I’d suggest going for a multipart design (or use non FDM printing).

There was no intention whatsoever to get a stiff rod here.

IMO the proper way to get a stiff rod is by tensioning rather than by reducing clearances.

Links

• http://chapmanpuzzles.com/catalog.htm
• https://web.archive.org/web/20170815212842/https://www.woodenuknow.com/3dsculpturepuzzles.html (original link died)