Travel Mancala board (customizable size)

MakerWorld Project Description

🌟 Parametric Travel Mancala Board – Sleek, Durable & Portable!

Bring a classic strategy game wherever you go! This fully parametric Mancala board is engineered specifically for mobility, compact storage, and heavy continuous play. Featuring structural, dual-segment corner hinges and an advanced over-center Sickle Cam-Lock, this board folds into a perfectly flush, rock-solid clamshell package that keeps your marbles or stones safely locked away inside.

No metal hardware, screws, or glue are required—everything snaps together seamlessly with 3D-printed heavy-duty retention pins.

📐 Features & Print Settings

• Parametric Integrity: Optimized for a rigidity and an ultra-clean, modern hand feel.
• Ergonomic Sickle Clasp: Designed with custom internal fillets to eliminate structural weak spots and a smooth, radiused exterior tip profile for quick, comfortable thumb operation.
• 100% Toolless Assembly: Uses 3D-printed split-barb pins to lock the structural hinges together forever.

Recommended Print Profiles:

💡 Important Slicing Tip: This design utilizes functional mechanical tight tolerances.  Ensure your filament flow rate and pressure advance are well-calibrated to ensure a smooth out-of-the-box fit!

• Material: PLA, PETG, or Tough PLA.
• Wall Loops: 4 to 5 Perimeters (Crucial for the hinge knuckles and the locking posts).
• Infill: 25%–40% Gyroid for the main board halves; 100% Solid Infill for the hinge pins and sickle clasp arm.
• Supports: Not required! All parts have been engineered to print completely flat on the build plate.

Assembly Instructions

Putting your Travel Mancala board together takes less than two minutes. Follow these simple steps for a perfect, heavy-duty build:

Step 1: Prep and Orient the Board Halves

1. Lay Leaf A and Leaf B flat on your work surface with the playing pits facing up.
2. Bring the two inside edges together, interlocking the dual short-edge corner hinge knuckles.
3. Check that the straight bores running all the way through the knuckles are fully aligned.

Step 2: Install the Short Hinge Pins

1. Grab one of the printed Short Hinge Pins and orient it so the split-tip barb points toward the board's hinge channel.
2. Push the pin into the outer side of the hinge bore.
3. Press firmly until you hear a solid "click"—this indicates that the split-barb has fully exited the knuckle inside the center gap and expanded to trap itself permanently.
4. Repeat this pass for the second corner hinge pin on the opposite side.

Step 3: Snap-Fit the Sickle Cam Clasp

1. Locate Leaf A (the half featuring the solid cylinder post with the compression slot alignment) on the exterior front wall.
2. Orient the Sickle Clasp so the beveled lead-in edge on the closed loop hole (Hole 1) faces down toward the post cap.
3. Place the loop directly over the post and press straight down firmly.
4. The integrated spring relief slot will flex open slightly to pass the retaining lip and click securely into place around the main shaft. The clasp should now spin smoothly.

Step 4: Lock and Test!

1. Fold the Mancala board shut into its closed clamshell configuration. The left and right exterior posts will align co-axially.
2. Take the open crescent tail of the sickle latch and swing it over the opposite post on Leaf B.
3. It will sweep tightly over the column with a satisfying snap, locking the board completely flush. Enjoy your game!