Play House that the children build themselves ??

[AndyBoyd]

We have been told about a system that enables children to build themselves a play house and a design that allows a number of different designs. With slot together joints

We have had no luck tracking such a supplier - any one know of one?

And now we are thinking of me making such a system. Now my 3D visualisation skills have always been lacking and so I'm struggling to even begin with designing such a system.

Any tips anyone?

I can figure out the walls, doors & windows, but the roof? Using standard pieces so not to confuse the kids too much (I was thinking of no more than 5 standard pieces. but I'm struggling)

 

[DomValente]

Err Legoland

Sorry couldn't resist

 

[AndyBoyd]

:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:


Now that would be hard, making accurate large wooden lego bricks!

Nice call DomValente

 

[Wanlock Dod]

Andy,

I can imagine that some kind of modular system might work rather well, although I think that it might be somewhat more difficult to make the specific parts modules so that they can do several jobs depending on the design that is chosen. What I think I mean here is that the design would need to be decided on before the building (although there might well be a bit of flexibility).

Cheers,

Dod

 

[Hitch]

Have a look in argos, there is loads of things like this in plastic.
Im sure they could be adapted.

 

[StevieB]

Hi,

Not sure about in wood, but in plastic almost all childrens garden toys seem to be of the slot together variety now. My sons slide/climbing frame came from the early learning centre (elc) and just pulls apart. Its not modular though, but there is no reason why it couldnt be.

I think the downfall of this sort of design in wood if it is to be modular is the slots and tabs - going to be difficult to make them strong enough for multiple disassembly and reassembly IMHO.

Steve.

 

[Scrit]

Have a look in argos, there is loads of things like this in plastic.
I'm sure they could be adapted.

There are two major problems I can see in this. Firstly you need a very stable material which is accurately machined/made - that biases me towards CNC-machined MDF (one of my own specialities). Plywoods are no good because of the splintering you get, similarly OSB and chipboard just doesn't have the strength.

The problem with doing them in MDF is the weight (the second major issue) - even with ultra lightweight MDF they are probably going to weigh too much. And "skinned frames" might not have the strength characteristics required unless you go to poplar frame/birch ply panel which becomes labour inrtensive. In MDF I reckon that you'd need 10 to 12 mm to get the strength characteristics you'll need and UL-MDF 12mm still weighs in around 20kg for an 8 x 4 sheet which is possibly too much. It's also a pain to finish, a bit like spraying blotting paper.

I have to agree with Hitch, the one material which would work well is injection-moulded polyethylene plastic.

I have played around with tab-lock construction in the past and it works well, but I view it as a flat pack delivery and completely tool-less construction technique which suits CNC machining.

If you have any ideas and would like to discuss them, please feel free to PM me

Regards

Scrit