The problem with construction toys is that you need to buy into the system. Lego, Tinker Toy, K’Nex and Lincoln Logs are not built to work together. But thanks to F.A.T. Lab and Sy-Lab there is now a way to play with all of them together! You simply need a 3D printer like Makerbot and with these plans you will have a set of their Free Universal Construction Kits which will give you adapters for 10 popular construction toys.
F.A.T. Lab and Sy-Lab are pleased to present the Free Universal Construction Kit: a matrix of nearly 80 adapter bricks that enable complete interoperability between ten* popular children’s construction toys. By allowing any piece to join to any other, the Kit encourages totally new forms of intercourse between otherwise closed systems—enabling radically hybrid constructive play, the creation of previously impossible designs, and ultimately, more creative opportunities for kids. As with other grassroots interoperability remedies, the Free Universal Construction Kit implements proprietary protocols in order to provide a public service unmet—or unmeetable—by corporate interests.
The Free Universal Construction Kit offers adapters between Lego, Duplo, Fischertechnik, Gears! Gears! Gears!, K’Nex, Krinkles (Bristle Blocks), Lincoln Logs, Tinkertoys, Zome, and Zoob. Our adapters can be downloaded from Thingiverse.com and other sharing sites as a set of 3D models in .STL format, suitable for reproduction by personal manufacturing devices like the Makerbot (an inexpensive, open-source 3D printer).
Danielle
20 Mar ’12 at 10:15 amI’ll just buy the $2000 3-D printer!
Built by Kids
20 Mar ’12 at 10:39 amThe Makerbot printer is $1,099. The only way this product works is because it’s open source. You could never get all of these manufacturers to agree to license their proprietary connectors for a single product.
We just think it’s cool that someone took the time to make this product.