Potential early crystolecular building blocks

Avoiding strained shell structures for presumably early accessible structures.

Extruded 2D building blocks

Self centering building blocks

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Possible (prismatically extruded) crystolecule building block shape that exploits self centering. It converts vdW sliding into vdW ripping in a Borromean ring like way.– Scalable svg version

Special geometry example. Snowflake building lock emplpoying the multi V groove self centering principle.
Converting weak sliding vdW force to strong ripping vdW force.
A bit like Borromean rings.
Once one part is out the others can be slid out.
Note that this is a 2D example.
Assuming mostly in plane loads or some in-plane horizontal constraints.

Puzzle piece building blocks

This should be self-explanatory. They even have a dedicated emoji: 🧩
For stiff connections better follow the design principle of passive pretension.
(TODO: To investigate: Are negative pressure bearing principles applicable here?)

Slot in plates

GIK (great invention kit) MIT center for bits and atoms (Langford paper)

Some research done on that at the meso/microscale by MIT CBA (center for bits nd atoms) Nanoscale it would not be friction holding the plates together but vdW forces or more strongly clips.

Preferrybly the clips lave some pre-tension to give the connections good stiffness.
Design principle of passive pretension.
(TODO: To investigate: Are negative stiffness bearings principles applicable?)

1D chainable reciprocative pseudogears

Here used as pseudo-gears but with coaxial/parallel pseudo-gears meshing the length can be extended (wiki-TODO: make a better example image)

This crosses over a bit into Potential early crystolecular mechanisms.
See page: Reciprocative pseudogears

The core idea here is to use the meshing of the
linear rack-gear teeth as form-closure-connection. Fallapart is constrained by vdW forces and or channel walls.

Q: How to do the interlocking assembly of matching channels segments?

Apply the desingn principle of multi V groove self centering.
Long weak bending spring pressing gently into centered position.

Related: ReChain frame system

Space-filling polyhedra holding together via vdW forces

Screencap from simulation by Philip Turner.

See page: Polyhedra of peculiar interest
Side-note: These may also be of interest for much later much bigger much more advanced microscale microcomponents.

Video by Philip Turner:
2024 – Strength of vdW adhesion
– Note that unlike in the simulation at the higher speeds the incoming block would actually
melt/evaporate/atomistically disintegrate but the force field used does not allow for breaking bonds.
– Also beware of the misleading aspects in animations of diamondoid molecular machine elements.

PrintABlok

A design by Joe Larson aka 3D Printing Professor.
This design is specifically optimized for FFF/FDM 3D printing.
Since mechanosynthesis in some regards has similar design constraints
the design (or slight variations of it) might also be good for the design of crystolecules.

All free to use. No patents here.

2022 – PrintABlok – by Joe Larson aka 3D Printing Professor
PrintABlok Anatomy - How I built a better building block for 3D printing to beat Lego
YouTube playlist with intro video

Inspired by tony busers pin connectors: Pin Connectors V2
Thingiverse early days thing #10541

Coverage by Stefan Hermann on CNC kitchen:
YouTube: 3D Printed, DIY "Interlocking Bricks": PrintABlok

• PrintABlok Modular Building Block Base Bloks
  https://www.printables.com/model/47788-printablok-modular-building-block-base-bloks
• https://www.printables.com/model/530053-printablok-big-ones
• https://www.printables.com/@3DPrintingProfessor/models
• https://www.3dpprofessor.com/product-tag/printablok/
• https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/printabox-modular-printablok-box

(wiki-TODO: Add an image too.)

Related

• Potential early crystolecular mechanisms

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• Examples of diamondoid molecular machine elements

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• Linear reciprocative pseudogears out of several building blocks

External Links

Some pages mostly on wood joinery that may serve as inspiration:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_carpentry
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimono_(Holztechnik)
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sashimono_fittings (just one image here as of 2025)
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holzverbindung
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwalbenschwanzverbindung
• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Turbinenschaufel_RB199.jpg

(wiki-TODO: Find better openly licensed illustrations and/or photos of (Japanese or other) wood joinery (based on form closure).)

Videos

Some videos on 3D printable connections that may serve as inspiration:

• Strong 3D Printed Connections on BIG parts – by NeedItmakeIt
• Joining Features | Design for Mass Production 3D Printing – by Slant 3D
• 10 Secret 3D Printing Tricks Only Experts Know... – by 3D Printer Academy