Rain Cube, Print Flat, Snap-together, Patterned All Sides

A 60mm cube that prints flat and snaps together, allowing patterned build plates to pattern all sides, with internal 'rain tubes' and tiny (2mm) steel balls that make sound in the manner of a Rain Stick. There are three tubes inside the cube oriented along the three major axes. The tubes are filled with the 'rain inserts' that provide the paths for the balls. A simple ball scoop tool is also provided for loading approximate amounts of balls into the tube/insert combinations. I used about 2 to 3 layers of balls in the scoop for the two smaller (15mm square) tubes and twice as much for the large (15mm x 25mm) tube. You may want to experiment with the amount of balls to use before complete assembly. Once assembled it is almost impossible to open the cube.

The first layer is printed in TPU for two reasons:
1. TPU sticks to the patterned build plates and picks up the pattern nicely, while PETG doesn't stick.
2. The TPU forms the 'live' hinges for folding the cube together.
The inserts are printed in PLA because PLA has a harder surface and makes a louder sound when hit by the balls. The finished cube is not loud, but it can easily be heard, for example, when seated at a desktop and manipulating the cube on it or just moving it around in your hand.

For one cube, print these files:

Cube60-Snap-Rain.STL - Quantity: 1 - Print first layer in TPU and remaining layers in PETG. Use 0.2mm layer height, 3 solid bottom layers and 3 solid top layers, 15% Gyroid infill.

RainInsert15sqV2.STL - Quantity: 8 - Print in PLA. Insert four pieces into each of the two small (15mm sq.) tubes. Stack four of them facing the same way, then insert them into the tubes. See the large insert stack and one of the small stacks in the assembly illustration (the other small stack is not shown).

RainInsert15x25V2.STL - Quantity: 8 - Print in PLA. Insert all 8 into the large (15mm x 25mm) tube. Stack all 8 pieces facing the same way, then insert the stack into the tube.

Also included are .3MF files generated for a Bambu Lab P2S with AMS Pro 2:

Cube60-Rain.3mf - The cube, first layer TPU, then PETG.
RainInsertAllV2.3mf - Prints all 16 of the PLA inserts for one cube (8 of each type) in one print.
BallScoop.3mf - The ball handling scoop - PLA.

2mm Steel Balls 2mm diameter steel balls can be found online, for example, on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/METERXITY-1000-Pack-Stainless-Bearing-Precision/dp/B0G1D3YV9G/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ER9BO9B08OEG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sBegliaGG5f7GnvZwy8Zgi2N25P7RFHuyikyFEvFq41uQKrtIgA8B78kMbMAg6mKj3S8ClQ9YC1KSCTfH_REcF9bniDtzNgUg7rpejb5wHIpCAl8YedoamUodVis4v3jo3EdAn3iAGHI7a2ftUKr5ppom74T3ERRhNSjGO86O5bcGEYPwLkXXeP76jVxvLMlzkfL2AtpAocneEVk5T5PfTkoZeBJ9_aYn7ZpuNhLLCo.AkrPvNWZ7xL4A0zYt-we1WuJF8uC0a4MFLOjpq0BQV0&dib_tag=se&keywords=2mm%2Bsteel%2Bballs&qid=1790219084&sprefix=2mm%2Bsteel%2Bballs%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-6&th=1

Assembly is literally and figuratively a snap! When working with these tiny balls, I suggest using a tray to catch any ball spillage. I also suggest adding the balls to all the tubes, then fold the large tube first and snap the side that closes the tube, then fold the small tube that lays across the large tube and snap close its meeting side, then the final closure of the third tube with the last side finishes the assembly.