3D Printed Power and Toughness Dice for Magic the Gathering

by Make Studio JUMP in Living > Toys & Games

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3D Printed Power and Toughness Dice for Magic the Gathering

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While playing Magic the Gathering, do you ever need to keep track of non-symmetric power and toughness on a creature or token? This simple die is designed exactly for that. Easily spin the die to create any combination of power and toughness between 1 and 4. The non spinning sides have a +1/+1 and a 0/1.

Designed to be printed in place. No assembly required.

Files include a simple 1 color print, where the numbers are cavities, and a 2 color print where the numbers are filled.

Also you'll see versions with SLIGHTLY increasing tolerances (the space between the parts) because every printer is different and you might not have a CAD program to edit the file. So if the .005" tol model sticks to much for you, try one of the larger tol models.

SIZE : 19mm (.748")

Supplies

Any FDM printer should be able to print this. For the 2 color option, you'll need a multi-head printer. We use a Prusa XL.

  • Any FMD printer. Or a fancy Prusa XL if you have one
  • PLA of the color of your choice
  • Maybe spray paint, or regular paint, of the color of your choice (for if you do the 1 color print and want to create contract between the number cavities and the faces they are on)

(I haven't tried this on a resin printer. If you do, please let us know how it goes)

Print the Die

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Make sure when you place the STL on the printer bed in your slicer program, that the 0/1 face is the one touching the bed. This is NESSECARY for the file to print. This is because the interior is basically a 'vase' that supports the top half.

FYI : the tolerance between pieces is .005" . Depending on your choice of filament you may want to increase this in Fusion and re-export. This was the lowest I was able to go and still have everything work. Lower than .005" gives moments in the g-code where the print connects across the gap.

Your printer settings may vary, ours are pretty straight forward, only like tweak from standard is :

Vertical Shell : Perimeter = 3


"Crack" the Die

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Even thought the 'vase' shape does a good job of supporting the top half of the die, it's not perfect. Thus the die sticks together a little bit when it's fresh off the printer. And thus, one needs to carefully 'crack' the die for it to start spinning.

To 'crack' the die carefully use 2 adjustable wrenches. We use these wrenches because they have smooth clamps and do not mar the die. Each wrench is carefully positioned to only touch one half of the die. An apply a calm and strong pressure until the die 'cracks'.


Remix

Please feel free to remix this project. We can only imagine that this little mechanical trick could be useful for other games, and you'll probably want to change what the faces of the die say. Download the Fusion 360 file and dig in! It should be pretty straight forward with the organization of bodies and sketches that drive the number text.

And please send us photos in you make these or make remixes! We love to see the creativity moving forward.