Project:Würfelturm MDF: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:16, 26 June 2025

ProjectInfoBox Dice Tower

Status:	done
Release Date:	1.12.23
Initiator:	jaggi2
Team:	-
Materials Used:	MDF , Walnut, Boxwood
Tools Used:	laser cutter, belt and disc sander
Software Used:	SketchUp, Inkscape, Lasercut 5.3
Approx. Cost:	10€, mostly for the lasercutting

This Dice Tower is made as a gift for a board game loving friend. I made it right after getting the introduction for the laser cutter, as a way to get used to the machine and software.

It is made out of 5mm MDF and some pieces out of 3mm MDF, cut on the laser cutter and the angles are sanded using the belt and disc sander. Everything is glued together using regular wood glue. Magnets are added in the cap and bottom to have them more stable when grabbing the dices. Also its spray painted with transparent acrylic color, to get rid of the burned smell from cutting. The bowl that catches the dices goes on the top for transport/storage.

Improvements could be done with the fitting, some small parts I would do differently, for example the walls of the bowl/cap, because on this version they don't line up with the other parts of the model. It could be an idea to have the cap made as a drawer that slides in and is hold in place with magnets. The tower could be made out of regular wood as well, making it a high quality. If you like the game "Settlers of Catan" the tower could be made hexagonal, so it fits directly into the board tiles.

For a solid wood dice tower with a completely different approach, check out Project:Würfelturm!

Building the Tower

First all the parts are cut on the laser cutter and for the wall panels the angles are grinded in. I made a small jig to hand sand it to the final dimension with high precision. Make sure to lasercut the walls, so that the more precise side is later shown on the outside, not the inside.

The tower basically consists out of eight walls, three "discs" which make the floors, in the middle the stairs, which guide the dices down and then also the cap.

I made several version, as shown in the pictures, the last one made out of walnut with small boxwood details.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{ProjectInfoBox
-|project title=Dice Tower MDF
+|project title=Dice Tower
-|image=Wuerfelturm MDF.jpg
+|image=Front view third tower.jpg
 |status=done
 |date=1.12.23
 |initiator=jaggi2
 |team=-
-|materials=[[MDF]]
+|materials=[[MDF]] , Walnut, Boxwood
 |tools=[[Laser Cutter|laser cutter]], [[Belt_and_Disc_Sander| belt and disc sander]]
 |software=[[SketchUp]], [[Inkscape]], [[Lasercut 5.3]]
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 [[File:Wuerfelturm 1.jpg|thumb|Door with dices]]
 [[File:Top view.jpg|thumb|top view]]
-It is made out of 5mm [[MDF]] and some pieces out of 3mm MDF, cut on the laser cutter and the angles are sanded using the [[Belt and Disc Sander|belt and disc sander]]. Everything is glued together using regular [[Wood Glue|wood glue]]. Magnets are added in the cap and bottom to have them more stable when grabbing the dices. Also its spray painted with transparent acrylic color, to get rid of the burned smell from cutting. The bowl that catches the dices goes on the top for transport/storage. There is a small wooden disc, to keep the dices from rolling down the stairs.
+It is made out of 5mm [[MDF]] and some pieces out of 3mm MDF, cut on the laser cutter and the angles are sanded using the [[Belt and Disc Sander|belt and disc sander]]. Everything is glued together using regular [[Wood Glue|wood glue]]. Magnets are added in the cap and bottom to have them more stable when grabbing the dices. Also its spray painted with transparent acrylic color, to get rid of the burned smell from cutting. The bowl that catches the dices goes on the top for transport/storage.
-Improvements could be done with the fitting, some small parts I would do differently, for example the walls of the bowl/cap, because on this version they don't line up with the other parts of the model. It could be an idea to have the cap made as a drawer that slides in and is hold in place with magnets. The tower could be made out of regular wood as well, making it a high quality.
+Improvements could be done with the fitting, some small parts I would do differently, for example the walls of the bowl/cap, because on this version they don't line up with the other parts of the model. It could be an idea to have the cap made as a drawer that slides in and is hold in place with magnets. The tower could be made out of regular wood as well, making it a high quality. If you like the game "Settlers of Catan" the tower could be made hexagonal, so it fits directly into the board tiles.
+''For a solid wood dice tower with a completely different approach, check out [[Project:Würfelturm]]!''
 == Building the Tower ==
-First all the parts are cut on the [[Laser Cutter|laser cutter]] and for the wall panels the angles are grinded in.
+First all the parts are cut on the [[Laser Cutter|laser cutter]] and for the wall panels the angles are grinded in. I made a small jig to hand sand it to the final dimension with high precision. Make sure to lasercut the walls, so that the more precise side is later shown on the outside, not the inside.
-For assembling, the bottom disc is placed, on top of it the "cross" is glued, to have the correct spacing to the next disc. While the glue is still wet, the four smaller wall panels are placed. Make sure everything is orthogonal while the glue dries.
--break, continuing soon.-
-[[File:Wuerfelturm MDF.jpg|left|thumb]]
+The tower basically consists out of eight walls, three "discs" which make the floors, in the middle the stairs, which guide the dices down and then also the cap.
+I made several version, as shown in the pictures, the last one made out of walnut with small boxwood details.[[File:Wuerfelturm MDF.jpg|left|thumb]]
+[[File:Second tower.jpg|thumb|Second Tower]]
+[[File:Third Tower.jpg|thumb|top view of the third tower]]
+[[File:Front view third tower.jpg|thumb|front view third tower]]
+[[Category:Laser Cutting]]
 [[Category:Toys & Games]]