Clutch power in printed bricks
Clutch power is how firmly two bricks hold together. Too little and a build collapses; too much and it cannot be taken apart.
What good feels like
It clicks on, holds when you tip it upside down, and comes off with a firm pull. That is a feel test, not a measurement: we do not claim a number of newtons.
What changes it
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Flow ratio | Higher grips tighter, lower grips looser. Move it 2 to 5% at a time. |
| Plastic | PLA grips a little tighter than PETG. PETG tends to print looser and often needs flow at 1.00 where the preset says 0.95. |
| Walls | Use 3. The grip ridges are made of wall lines. |
| Outer wall speed and cooling | Slower and cooler (PLA fan up after the first layers) gives cleaner, more consistent studs. |
| First layer | A squashed first layer makes the base tight. Slow it to about 25 mm/s. |
Every part starts at our tested fit (Fit 1); Fits 2 to 5 grip tighter. Print the free fit test (10 small plates, 1–5 dots) and pick the one that clicks best. Do not scale the parts.
Fix it
- Falls off: fixing loose bricks.
- Will not go on: fixing tight bricks.
- Rough studs: fixing rough studs.
Printed bricks are not toys: small parts, a choking hazard, not for children under 3.