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Interlock lab currently prepares 4 checked, unscaled plain brick sources. New lab setups default to nexlock-interlock-v3; explicitly saved earlier revisions remain selected, reproducible and available for comparison. Source part identifiers, release information and original author/license notices remain intact. Other catalog shapes do not automatically receive a new manufacturing mesh.
Use PLA or PETG with an installed 0.2–0.4 mm nozzle. Choose the exact printer, nozzle and filament process. Check physical fit on the selected machine and spool.
| Source part | Pilot shape |
|---|---|
| 3005 | Brick 1 x 1 |
| 3004 | Brick 1 x 2 |
| 3003 | Brick 2 x 2 |
| 3001 | Brick 2 x 4 |
The precision v3 mesh rebuilds the complete pilot body and receiving structures as manufacturing CAD from checked source measurements. It deliberately changes the exterior body dimensions and smooths the reconstructed tubes/posts and bores. It is a declared rebuilt derivative, not the original source surface.
V1 and v2 retain their earlier body envelopes and generators. V2 adds local inner-wall and external tube/post contacts; v1 keeps the original tube/post contacts and adds only local inner-wall pads. Their saved geometry, ranges and Tested records are not relabeled as v3.
| Geometry revision | System | Construction changes |
|---|---|---|
| nexlock-interlock-v1 | Original wall contacts | Smooth top studs with entry bevel; Local lower-band inner-wall friction pads |
| nexlock-interlock-v2 | Refined wall, tube & post contacts | Round studs with a rounded 0.10 mm entry tip; Gap-compensated lower inner-wall grip lands; Lower external tube/post grip lands at measured source gaps |
| nexlock-interlock-v3 | Precision manufacturing mesh | Full manufacturing-body rebuild from measured source dimensions; 0.10 mm exterior inset per side · 0.20 mm shared joint clearance; 1.50 mm perimeter wall stock with unchanged receiving planes; Smooth tube/post and bore contours; Rounded stud entry and local receiving grip lands |
V3 rebuilds the body, roof, studs, receiving cylinders and bores instead of retaining the faceted source surfaces. It keeps the measured receiving-plane positions and uses the inset outer faces to provide body clearance without thickening the whole wall. Source-measured roof and mating heights, core dimensions/positions and stud spacing guide the construction.
The body target width and length are intentionally smaller than the source envelope. Measure each prepared candidate against its own displayed target bounds; the catalog dimensions and another system’s bounds are not interchangeable acceptance targets. Nominal clearance is a CAD value, not a measurement of the cooled printed joint.
Integral receiving lands act near the open underside, within the depth reached by an inserted stud. They are not separate inserts, springs or hooked latches. The earlier presentation renders show a design direction, not dimensioned production CAD. Global clearance, XY and shrink changes remain locked out of the interlock comparisons.
| V3 feature | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Exterior body inset | 0.10 mm per side |
| Nominal adjacent-body joint clearance | 0.20 mm on the unchanged stud grid |
| Default stud target | 4.80 mm with rounded 0.10 mm entry |
Use Download experiment catalog to save the source-to-variant mapping as JSON. It mirrors the current source catalog metadata, retains upstream credits and lists the supported geometry revisions, comparison settings and precision-body changes. Only supported pilot entries are experimental manufacturing variants prepared on demand.
Source-only entries have no experimental converter. Their presence in the database does not mean that they have new interlock geometry or passed physical testing. Plates, slopes, Technic connections, clips and hinges retain their existing workflows.
Confirm the exact printer, installed nozzle, material and spool. Open Calibration directly, or choose Interlock lab beside Source library in Parts Library.
In Calibration, use Compare connection systems or select Compare connection systems in What would you like to improve? It compares implemented architectures on one pilot part with a common recipe. The lab’s Compare connection systems action opens the same goal.
Inspect and print the numbered candidates, then select a preferred system. Repeat the winner and measure it before recording Tested evidence.
To refine an architecture, choose Experimental interlock · contact fit and use Connection system to tune directly in Calibration, or use Tune selected system contact from the lab. This comparison changes only local contact within the chosen system.
Use New interlock and the available inspection views to review actual prepared geometry. Use experimental part opens the chosen part and setup in Part Designer for saving, normal STL/3MF generation and Companion handoff.
Keep the numbered files, system revision, bed order and manifest with the matching recipe. A sample number is local to its part, goal, system and settings.
This comparison changes several geometry features together, including receiving construction and the precision mesh’s body clearance. It compares architectures; it is not a single-parameter contact sweep. The same numeric contact setting does not make the systems’ actual contact surfaces identical. Identical slicer process settings are intentional: compare the actual meshes, geometry IDs and target dimensions for the geometry changes.
The winner is the specific candidate you print, cool, repeat and verify. Its result applies to that system, source part, geometry, printer, nozzle, spool and process. Selecting a different system or later contact value requires its own applicable evidence.
| System comparison | Common setting |
|---|---|
| Candidate count | 3 geometry systems |
| Straight stud target | 4.80 mm |
| Contact setting | 0.020 mm, interpreted by each revision |
| Contact width | 0.80 mm |
| Print process | The same selected effective recipe for every candidate |
The precision and refined designs offer Exploded, Assembled, Seated section, Underside and Contact detail inspection using the actual prepared mesh. Original source and the preserved wall-contact design use the ordinary single-part viewer. Display separation and cuts do not alter the whole solid that is exported. The assembled view does not simulate printed flexibility, insertion force or deformation.
Contact detail reports the measured digital receiver gap, Net interference target and Added land depth. V3 inspection follows the normalized rebuilt mesh coordinates so its displayed contacts align with the actual output. A tight target can show intentional local interference; these digital values are not printed measurements.
Amber highlights mark actual receiving-contact faces for inspection. They are display-only and do not request a second material or recolor the export. The integral lands remain part of the same printable solid.
V2 and v3 account for the measured gap at that system’s receiving surface before targeting net local contact interference. The value is not necessarily the total added thickness. Original v1 retains its added-pad-depth meaning. Keep the geometry revision with the number.
Zero adds no receiving lands and remains the selected system’s smooth-stud control, with its rounded entry where applicable. It is not the untouched source or restored corrected-reference brick.
Only the local contact level changes within the selected system. Both interlock goals retain the selected effective motion, cooling, flow and elephant-foot values. Geometry IDs should differ while supported native process values remain identical. No speed boost is introduced.
Inspect the sliced receiving perimeters: a small CAD feature can be omitted, merged or smoothed by nozzle and line-width choices. Mesh fit adjustments, including v3 body clearance, are already baked into the export; do not apply them again as a slicer correction.
| Contact-fit comparison | Shared values |
|---|---|
| Local contact levels | 0.000 mm · 0.020 mm · 0.040 mm · 0.060 mm |
| Straight stud target | 4.80 mm in every contact candidate |
| Global clearance / XY / shrink | Zero; system geometry remains fixed within this comparison |
Print three matching copies of the selected candidate and complete Compare & repeat and Verify & save. Use its own target dimensions and straight-stud target, perform the required single-stud retention check and complete the existing acceptance checks. Earlier Tested records remain attached to their original geometry and process.
Compare printed-to-printed connections, printed studs into the same reference receiver, and reference studs into the printed underside. Check cooled flatness, single-stud and full engagement, repeated release, flush seating and a staggered wall across adjacent bricks. Reject forcing, scraping, cracks or a seating gap.
A different revision, source, contact level, stud target or process needs its own applicable evidence. A winning pilot does not qualify another family or every printer from the same brand. A rebuilt mesh does not certify printed surface quality, mechanical performance or a faster production time.
Use Export & downloads for the current Designer part or the selected calibration candidate’s own downloads. Use Companion to prepare a native project for Creality, Anycubic or QIDI. For manual workflows, import the geometry and enter the matching process values in the slicer.
Retain the system revision, source identity, geometry ID, local-contact value, target bounds and exact process with the result. Keep LDraw credits and licenses with the source and exported attribution. Saving a v3 setup does not rewrite earlier saved parts or the successful corrected reference.