3D-Print-Optimized Geometric Chess Set Pieces

[See also the chess board I designed to go along with these pieces: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4168781 ]

My goal was to design a chess set optimized from the ground up for 3D printing. This meant that it should look amazing on any printer using the most basic of settings, and it shouldn’t require any supports (including for the knight). I furthermore wanted to give it an iconic look that stands out as unique, while simultaneously capturing the essence of the standard modern chess set.

My desire to avoid supports meant that I would limit myself to overhangs of no greater than 45 degrees. And as I started playing with that, I realized that a minimalistic set relying on geometric / low-poly shapes would fit the bill nicely. I think the end result has turned out great!

For sizing, I designed the pieces at 112 mm tall for the king and queen, with the rest of the pieces down from there. This is pushing the upper bounds of US regulation size pieces. However, I exported the stl files at 50% of the size I modeled them at, which is a much more reasonable size for an average chess set.

As currently scaled, the base sizes are 16 mm for the pawns and 24 mm for all other pieces. Feel free to scale them to 200% for the max regulation size, or make them whatever other size you feel would be best.

I chose not to make the king taller than the queen because it’s 2020, and there’s no reason to be prioritizing the male monarch over the female monarch. This is an egalitarian…