EDUstick® Creators Club
Paths That Connect
Build six separate 40 × 40 mm tiles: two straights and four curves. Rotate them on the table and find three different paths from start to finish. For home or workshop use.
Your outcome: Have fun rotating tiles and composing a continuous path.
Beginners of various ages; assistance according to skill level and device instructions. • 30–48 min of 3D pen work; 45–70 min total. Estimate without a physical trial.
Illustration of the finished construction. Full-size (1:1) templates are supplied on a separate sheet.
Preparation
What you need
A 3D pen, the selected filament and equipment available in your workspace. See the complete list below.
Tick off prepared items. Your selections are saved on this device.
Equipment
Materials
Equipment
Materials
Equipment
Filament — amounts include extra
Total filament: 1.8 m · approximately 5.4 g
The quantities include extra filament. Grams indicate estimated net filament mass, excluding packaging.
Preparation
Before you start
- Print W01 (straight ×2) and W02 (curve ×4) at 100% scale, without fitting to the page. Check the 20 mm segment. Place the pattern under the transparent pen mat.
- PLA: input diameter 1.75 mm. Each strand is approximately 1.2 mm wide and approximately 1.2 mm high. Frame: two overlapping strands, width 2.2 mm. Path: three strands, width 3.2 mm. Everything is in one layer, with an outer dimension of 40 × 40 mm.
- Select settings and assistance according to the device instructions and skill level. Do not touch the nozzle or hot PLA. Set the 3D pen down according to its instructions. The age indication in the metadata does not replace the device requirements.
- Viewed from above: N = top, E = right, S = bottom, W = left. At 0°, the straight connects W–E and the curve connects W–N. Rotate clockwise, always keeping the top side up. The IDs and arrows describe the illustration; you do not make any additional parts.
- W01: P1/P2 ×2; W02: L1/L2/L3/L4 ×4. Make the tile frames and roads from PLA. The light background grid, labels, IDs and sheet borders are guides only. During play, follow the wide road inside the tile.
- Choose PLA colors: the frames and roads may be different colors. First make the six frames (K01), then the straights (K02) and curves (K03). Before adding the road, align the cold frame with its pattern.
The large image shows the stage outcome; small views show the action. ×N: repeat the entire action N times, cooling and checking each time. Illustrations are not at 1:1 scale.
Session 1 • stage 1/8
Six frames: side by side
Make frames P1 and P2 on W01, and frames L1–L4 on W02. Each side: two overlapping strands, one layer. Add three sides, then close the fourth. Repeat the three phases shown for each ID. Wait until the PLA has cooled completely.
Check: Six closed 40 × 40 mm frames; frame width 2.2 mm.
If it does not work: Fill the small gap without widening the outline.
Stage outcome
Complete model — all previously made parts
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 2/8
Two straights: join the entries
Align frame P1 with W01. Using the selected PLA color, lay three adjacent strands from the center of the left side: first to the midpoint, then to the right side. Join the road to the frame. Repeat both phases for P2.
Check: Two W–E straights; road width 3.2 mm, both entries connected.
If it does not work: Complete the missing connection within the pattern.
Stage outcome
Tile P1 — straight · Tile P2 — straight
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 3/8
Four curves: turn upward
Align frame L1 with W02. Lay three adjacent strands from the center of the left side: first half the curve, then to the center of the top side. Join both entries to the frame. Repeat for L2, L3 and L4.
Check: Four W–N curves; the three strands meet along the entire road.
If it does not work: Fill the gap to match curve W02.
Stage outcome
Tile L1 — curve · Tile L2 — curve · Tile L3 — curve · Tile L4 — curve
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 4/8
Check the six tiles
Wait until the PLA has cooled completely. Arrange the set as shown: two straights and four curves. Check the closed frames and both entries of each road.
Check: You have exactly P1, P2, L1, L2, L3, L4: two straights and four curves. The tiles are separate, cold, and flat.
If it does not work: Repair a small gap at an entry according to K05; greater damage requires remaking the tile.
2 straights + 4 curves
Complete model — all previously made parts
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 5/8
Only when an entry needs repair
Only if an entry has a small gap: place the cold tile on the pattern. Do not damage a correct tile. Keep the cold right frame away from the nozzle. Fill the gap with three short, overlapping strands. Wait until the PLA has cooled completely; check the entry and the 40 mm dimension.
Check: After repair and cooling, three strands once again connect the path to the frame. The inlet is not loose; the outline is still 40 mm.
If it does not work: If the damage is substantial, remake the tile using the correct pattern.
Stage outcome
Tile P1 — straight
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 6/8
Correct the rotation and check route A
Puzzle A: find the incorrectly rotated tile. The wrong rotation of L1 (90°) disconnects the road from P1. Lift the cold L1, rotate it another 180° clockwise and place it back at 270°. Arrange Steps as shown. Trace the wide road with your finger from START to END in order 1–6; check each of the five joints.
Check: After rotation, the wide inlets meet. Go from START to FINISH through numbers 1–6; all five joins are continuous.
If it does not work: Lift the cold tile, rotate it with the top side up, and set it down again. Do not weld the tiles together or route the path along the frame.
A — Steps: check 1–6
Complete model — all previously made parts
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 7/8
Arrange and check route B
Challenge B: rearrange the same tiles and check the new road. Separate the tiles. Move and rotate them one at a time over the table, face up. Arrange Winding Road as shown. Trace the wide road with your finger from START to END in order 1–6, checking the five joints.
Check: All six IDs appear once. The path 1–6 is continuous at all five joins and ends only at START and FINISH.
If it does not work: Lift the cold tile, rotate it with the top side up, and set it down again. Do not weld the tiles together or route the path along the frame.
B — Winding Road: check 1–6
Complete model — all previously made parts
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 8/8
Arrange and check route C
Challenge C: trace from START to END with your finger. Separate the tiles. Move and rotate them one at a time over the table, face up. Arrange Up and Down as shown. Trace the wide road with your finger from START to END in order 1–6, checking the five joints. Now create your own route using all six tiles.
Check the five joints; you may invite another person to trace it.
Check: All six IDs appear once. The path 1–6 is continuous at all five joins and ends only at START and FINISH.
If it does not work: Lift the cold tile, rotate it with the top side up, and set it down again. Do not weld the tiles together or route the path along the frame.
C — Up and Down: check 1–6
Complete model — all previously made parts
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Finished — check the outcome
- Set: P1, P2, L1, L2, L3, L4 — six separate, cold 40 × 40 mm tiles. All frames are closed, and the paths make wide connections at the centers of their sides. No section is loose.
- Arrange A, B, and C from cards K06–K08 in sequence. In each route, use all six IDs once. Trace the wide path with your finger from START to FINISH, following numbers 1–6. There is no gap or offset at any of the five joins, and there is no dead end within the route.
- If a road joint does not align, rotate or move the cold tile. Do not weld the tiles together. Repair a small damaged entry according to K05. Wait until it has cooled completely and check again. For greater damage, remake the tile.
- Using the same set, create your own route: all six tiles once, five aligned joints, START and END. Check it with your finger. After play, store the tiles flat; turn off the device according to its instructions.
Save the model to your collection and rate the activity in the Creators Club.
Techniques — reference appendix
T001 • Stage 1
1 × Tile P1 — straight · PLA | template W01
1 × Tile P2 — straight · PLA | template follow the written method
K01: frame. K02: straight W01. K04: check the cold tile. Finished cross-section [mm]: pasmo: szerokość 1,2; wysokość 1,2; ramka: szerokość 2,2; droga: szerokość 3,2. Support: Flat, on the pen mat. Strand direction: Frame: 2 strands; path: 3 strands W–E or W–N. Cooling: Wait until the PLA has cooled completely. Tip access: From above; grip away from the nozzle.
T002 • Stage 1
1 × Tile L1 — curve · PLA | template W02
1 × Tile L2 — curve; 1 × Tile L3 — curve; 1 × Tile L4 — curve · PLA | template follow the written method
K01: frame. K03: curve W02. K04: check the cold tile. Finished cross-section [mm]: pasmo: szerokość 1,2; wysokość 1,2; ramka: szerokość 2,2; droga: szerokość 3,2. Support: Flat, on the pen mat. Strand direction: Frame: 2 strands; path: 3 strands W–E or W–N. Cooling: Wait until the PLA has cooled completely. Tip access: From above; grip away from the nozzle.