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Four in a row - build your own standing board

A large two-panel PLA board on feet, with seven channels, a sliding gate and 42 counters. This project develops the accepted sketch: first test one column, then build the complete game.

Age
8–12 years
Length
approx. 10 h
Level
Medium
Where you teach
Home
Purpose
Creative
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How to run this session

Stages and timing
  1. First trial panel
  2. Rear panel and trial parts
  3. Assemble the full trial column
  4. Two counters: rim and ribs
  5. Fill the first layer
  6. Complete the second counter layer
  7. Trial before the full board
  8. Skeleton of the front panel
  9. Widen the front panel ribs
  10. Set aside the first panel
  11. Skeleton of the rear panel
  12. Widen the rear panel ribs
  13. Eight channel walls
  14. Join the panels and walls
  15. Posts, feet and braces
  16. Stand the board on its feet
  17. Runners and long gate
  18. Install the runners and gate
  19. Slide the gate out of the empty board
  20. Insert the gate again
  21. Remaining counters: rims and ribs
  22. First layer of the set
  23. Second layer and the full set of 42
  24. Check full capacity and emptying
  25. First game

What gets built

Make a complete game with vertically stacked counters.

What it practises
  • Build a game from flat PLA parts, check the fit and test how it works.

Success criteria
  • Seven columns hold six counters each; the set includes 21 of each colour.
  • Counters stay behind the windows, fall without pressure and are released by sliding the gate without tearing the structure.
  • The board stays stable during insertion and while emptying with a foot held.

What you need
Filament
PLA
Colours
colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration, colour shown in the illustration
Also
PLA-compatible 3D pen: 1 piece, Transparent heat-resistant work surface: 1 piece, at least 30 × 26 cm, Ruler: 1 piece, at least 30 cm, 1:1 patterns on A4 paper: 1 set of printed sheets

Files

The files for this plan are part of full access

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Version e80cc114-760c-4666-bb07-e36b4eded2e8 Updated 2026-10-10

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