The Cubic Cluster: New Block for Endless Design Blocks

This expansion set introduces two different versions of the Cubic Cluster, a form made from four interlocked cubes. It fits seamlessly into the Endless Design Blocks system and opens up new possibilities for tiling, stacking, and structural play. Each variation includes a ready-to-print 3MF plate designed for a 256 × 256 mm build area (like the Bambu Lab P1P or P1S). You can copy and paste more blocks or arrange your own custom layouts as needed. I've also included the STLs for each block variant in a few different sizes. These blocks are all sized to align perfectly with the other blocks and build surfaces from the Endless Design Blocks Intro Kit. Two compatible versions are included: Cubic Cluster – Flatback One side of the block is a flat triangle, making it great for patterned surfaces. I like to use the Hilbert Curve pattern (the one in the photo). Alternatively, you can print that flat triangular face with zero bottom layers and 0% sparse infill, creating a hollowed-out variation with a completely different look and added functionality. I haven’t photographed this version yet, but I’ll share images as soon as I do. Cubic Cluster – Uncut A fully intact version with no triangular cut. Offers a different visual and physical presence while staying fully compatible with the other variant, other block types, and Endless Design Block build surfaces. This version prints in a different orientation than the Flatback, so even with the same tri-color silk PLA, the color split will look different. That’s due to both the shape and how the layers are laid down. You can see what I mean in the following photo: the Uncut version is on the left, and the Flatback is on the right. Both were printed with the same filament, but they look noticeably different. Each version offers unique strengths and visual effects. Both align cleanly with each other and with all Endless Design Blocks platforms released so far. Looking for compatible build surfaces? • Triangular/Tetrahedral Base Platform: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7323010 • XL Cubic Build Surface and Dual-Purpose Base: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7324289 You're not limited to these, though. The blocks also tile beautifully in 2D, so you can glue them onto any flat surface to create custom patterns or art pieces. These layouts create interesting pockets and negative space, giving you plenty of spots to stack more blocks on top and expand into 3D. But wait… What are Endless Design Blocks? Endless Design Blocks is a fully 3D-printable building block and geometric art system designed to inspire creativity and offer a calming, tactile experience. It’s perfect for anyone who finds comfort in organizing shapes and patterns. It also helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and it’s fun for all ages. Each block and build surface is designed to align naturally using only gravity and geometry. No magnets, no snapping, no locking mechanisms. Both are fully scalable. Want a larger setup? Just double the size of your largest pieces. Need something smaller? Halve the smallest. Everything scales cleanly in powers of two and still fits together seamlessly. If you want to resize the entire set to match your printer or project, just scale all the parts together in your slicer to keep everything aligned and consistent. You’re not limited to the included build surfaces either. The blocks tile nicely in 2D, so you can glue them to any flat surface to create custom patterns or layouts. That kind of setup creates interesting pockets and negative space, which gives you plenty of places to stack more blocks on top and start building into 3D. These blocks are super versatile. Use them to build geometric sculptures, modular tabletop games, jewelry, art pieces, or whatever else comes to mind. There’s no right or wrong way to use them. If you decide to print a set, I’d love to see what you come up with. The possibilities are truly endless! Interested in learning more about Endless Design Blocks? Click here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7323010 You can also see them in action by watching this YouTube Short: https://youtube.com/shorts/65AX6ZEa_iI?feature=share Important License Information: This upload is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. You’re free to use it, remix it, and even sell prints or remixes, as long as you give proper credit and share any remix or derivative under the same license. You can use this link to give credit to Endless Design Lab: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7324347 Note: Not all Endless Design Blocks uploads will use the same license. Some future sets may come with different terms, especially for more advanced or exclusive designs. Be sure to check the license info on each individual upload. This set is shared openly to support creativity, remixing, and community-driven design. If you have any questions about crediting or how to use the designs, feel free to reach out. FDM Print Settings - For the Flatback Version: • Nozzle: 0.4 mm • Layer Height: The included 3MF files use 0.2 mm layers by default. For the smallest size, I recommend printing at 0.16 mm layer height. It looks even better if you have a 0.2 mm nozzle, but 0.16 mm on a 0.4 mm nozzle works well too. • Infill: Any pattern or density works. I usually go with 0% to save time and filament. This also pairs nicely with the variation that uses zero bottom shell layers, as mentioned earlier. • Supports: None required. • Bottom Layer Pattern: Choose whatever you like. I recommend the Hilbert Curve, especially with tri-color silk PLA. It gives a clean, geometric finish that fits the overall vibe of the design. Instead of using a bottom layer pattern on the triangular face: You can print the flat triangular face on the Flatback version with zero bottom shell layers to create a hollowed-out variation with a different look and added functionality. (To do this, set the sparse infill percentage to 0%.) For the Uncut Version: • Nozzle: 0.4 mm • Layer Height: Same as the Flatback version. The included 3MF uses 0.2 mm layers by default, but for the smallest size, I recommend printing at 0.16 mm. If you have a 0.2 mm nozzle, that’s even better, but 0.16 mm layers on a 0.4 mm nozzle still work well. • Infill: 10% with Gyroid pattern. This has worked best for me, but feel free to experiment with other settings. I don’t recommend using 0% infill on the Uncut version. While it may look decent in smaller sizes, bridging issues can cause visible flaws. Using some infill helps maintain clean surface quality. • Supports: Not required. • Bottom Layer Pattern: Your choice. I usually stick with monotonic for a clean, consistent finish, but patterns like Hilbert Curve, Concentric, or Archimedean Chords also look great, especially with tri-color silk PLA. It really depends on your personal style and how you plan to use the blocks. If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help. Enjoy the print, and don't forget to share your creations with me! 🌀 ⚠ Safety Note: Choking Hazard Endless Design Blocks contain small parts and are not suitable for children under 3 years old. These models are designed primarily for ages 14 and up unless printed at a significantly larger scale. If you're printing these blocks for younger users, please scale them up accordingly and supervise play at all times. Improper use or handling may result in injury or ingestion of small pieces. Endless Design Lab is not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or misuse of these blocks. Always print, handle, and share responsibly. Selling physical prints of my other designs is only permitted if you are an active member of my Authorized Seller tier on Patreon, Printables, or MakerWorld. To learn more, visit https://www.patreon.com/c/endlessdesignlab Thank you for downloading and supporting Endless Design Lab! 🌀 Endless Design Lab has many more mind-melting models to be unveiled! Please show your support by following me on your favorite platform. https://linktr.ee/EndlessDesignLab 🤝 Want to collaborate? 📧 Email me at [email protected]