Lovesac Sactional Miniblock Upgrades

What are these?

For those who aren't familiar, Lovesac is a furniture company that makes modular sofas which they call Sactionals. To help in planning your modular sofa, they also produce these little wooden blocks that magnetize together to make scaled models of the Sactional couches.

I noticed while watching our local Lovesac representative sell a couch that customers were struggling to understand the modular shoe system and the way the different pillow sizes work in corners. What followed was a ridiculous rabbit-hole of a project to create a more representative, miniature version of the Sactional couch parts.

What have I done?

I created updated versions of the traditional Lovesac wooden blocks. These new block have hidden magnets in them for a more seamless look, and also have tiny steel legs that press into a new Sactional shoe model. In addition to the traditional "Deep" and "Shallow" seating sides, I also made models of the newer angled sides Lovesac offers. To top it off, I modeled pillows that fit nicely on top of you miniature Sactional.

So in summary, here is the list of modular Sactional components:

• Base model

• Traditional "shallow" side

• Angled "shallow" side

• Traditional "deep" side

• Angled "deep" side

• "Shallow" pillow

• "Deep" pillow

• Sactional shoe

Printing Tips

Parts Lists

In addition to the printed models, several of the miniatures need additional parts to work like magnets and pins. Here is the parts list for each of the components listed above:

To build a Base Model, in addition to the printed component you will need:

• 10x magnets (see section below on magnet installation)

• 4x 3/8" long, 3/32" diameter dowel pins for feet

To build a Traditional Shallow Side, you will need:

• 6x magnets

• 2x dowel pins

To build a Traditional Deep Side, you will need:

• 4x magnets

• 2x dowel pins

To build an Angled Shallow Side, you will need: (See special note on Angled Sides below)

• 3x 3/8" long, 3/16" OD dowel pins

• 2x 3/8" long, 3/32" OD dowel pins

To build an Angled Deep Side, you will need: (See special note on Angled Sides below)

• 2x 3/8" long, 3/16" OD dowel pins

• 2x 3/8" long, 3/32" OD dowel pins

Installing Magnets

For the modular Sactional miniatures to work, they need magnets installed during the printing process. The magnet I designed for is an 1/8" thick, 3/16" OD Neodymium magnet. You can buy them from McMaster under P/N 5862k102.

To install the magnets, you will need to add a pause to your print 11.5mm from the model base (this number will be different if you add a raft, etc.). This should expose the hollow spaces where the magnets drop in. After you drop the magnets into the hollows, your printer can resume printing right on top of the magnets. This assumes your print head is not particularly magnetic. I assume if you have steel nozzles, this will not work for you.

NOTE: The way you place the magnets into the model matters greatly. Magnets are polarized N/S, and you will need to place them into the model correctly so that modular blocks will actually attract each other. Incorrect placement will ruin the parts. See the picture labeled "Polarity Planning" to show proper placement.

SUB-NOTE: I realized when I tried these blocks at the Lovesac store that the polarity I used is not compatible with the stock Lovesac blocks. I will update the Polarity Planning sheet when I figure out what the real blocks do for polarity.

Special note on Angled Sides

Because angled sides can only attach to the Sactional in one way (with the angle towards your seat) you cannot place magnets into the Angled sides. Instead, they are designed for a steel rod, which will assume the opposite polarity from whatever side you attempt to place it on. This does result in less attractive force compared to paired magnets.

The rod I designed for is an 3/8" long, 3/16" OD dowel pin. You can buy them from McMaster under P/N 98381A503.

Why did I do this?

This is a really good question and I do not have an answer.

At the end of the day I had fun designing them and so that's a good enough reason for me. For more examples of frivolous designs check out the couch Accessories that pair with these models.

And if you really want to make someone's day, print some of these and bring them to your local Lovesac store. Our local store thought they were awesome and get compliments on them all the time!