Welcome to The Modular Lantern, a fully stackable system of cross-compatible parts. The idea behind the system is simple — you can completely change the look of your lantern with the seasons, not just by the patterned inserts but also by picking different lantern components and attaching them to the core.
 

This is a new Tiny version just 5cm wide large enough for a Tea light and a great introduction to the system due to the speed it prints and little plastic it uses. It also makes a wonderful picture frame for a truly personal decoration.
 

I like choice but so as to not overwhelm, begin your journey by printing plate 1 which contains all the parts you need for a complete lantern except the inserts and clips.

Printing

Then pick a colour to go behind the inserts and print plate 4 (Panels) it can be any normal PLA it's usually semi transparent at 3 layers thick. In the photos for these steps I'm using a translucent PLA but there is no need for it to be translucent.

Now you also need some inserts there is a generic octagon set on plate 6 and many others available for different seasons / styles.

Assembly

Place your chosen inserts in front (or behind for a frosty look when lit) of the solid panel.

Then find the spacer which has two sides, one for magnets or MagFit clips and the other side shown below which is the side you want to push onto the top of the lantern with a satisfying click.

LED Holder

The LED Holder can hold Tea Lights up to 39mm in diameter 20mm tall. Most cheap tea lights I've tested are 37mm in diameter but I do have some USB rechargeable ones at 39mm these are also taller and you will find the a taller cap part that supports up to 25mm tall LEDs.

The base is designed to keep access to batteries and switch. Rotate the light until it's small feet fit in the holes provided. If you find a tea light that does not work then DM with details!

It also supports the small waterproof remote control LEDs you can buy.

You can push this base into the core as follows but WAIT! it's better if you insert it into a skirt as that lowers the light in the lantern.

Skirts

Skirts are optional but they add some style to the base of the lantern and in this tiny model also let us place the LED lower helping light the whole panel without shadows from the led casing.

You have 3 different skirts to chose from. To appreciate the Modular Lantern philosophy I suggest printing them all and experimenting, it's not much plastic or time and is fun🙂 If you have an idea for another style you would like to see be sure to reach out to me.

Push the base into the skirt from below:

Now to attach the skirt to the core you can use my MagFit clips (download here) or 6mm diameter magnets see later for details. I use the clips:

Tops

Next add 4 more MagFit clips or magnets into the spacer on the top of the core:

push the top onto this and add a clip to it:

Toppers

Toppers go on top of tops, but before you push it on take the ring and work it into the holes one side at a time. I find you often need to push and rotate a bit, this gives a reasonably secure hold. It's not something I'd expect to hold the lantern outside in the wind (add a dab of glue for that) but stationary hanging will be fine.

You can now place it on top of the top to complete the lantern:

Experimenting

Plate 2 contains 3 alternative tops and a set of toppers. I'll explain the top that accepts toppers:

Take a couple of MagFit clips and place them in the small cylinder part:

pop it on top of the top like so:

The toppers have a channel in them to position the vertical wall part (I call it the chimney):

Just push this onto the top and locate into the channel.

Continue to experiment you can remove the chimney:

Add a dash of colour

or even more:

Dealing with translucent issues

Some PLA is quite translucent and you may find that out when you have printed and put the lantern together. For example the Red and white let some light show through the top while black blocks it completely.

There is a solution :-) You can use the flat base on plate 5:

While this can be used as a base to stick any LED onto with some Velcro or similar it can also be placed upside down in the spacer, print it in black or similar:

Now when you switch the light on it blocks it:

Note on this exposure you can also see light through the lantern uprights on the red lantern slightly, it's not too noticeable but if you have a filament that does this and you dislike it increase the number of walls in the slicer and print a new core. The white was printed with 3 instead of the default 2 walls.

Bonus

This whole lantern and it's tops and skirts fit as toppers on the Medium and standard size Modular Lanterns, yup sorry way too many options! I look forward to seeing your photos of unique combinations!

Inserts

This lantern accepts 38mmx57mm inserts with up to 2mm depth.

You can scale these inserts to fit the other lanterns. If you are considering shrinking other inserts to this lantern then double check that everything stays intact at this smaller size, you may need a 0.2mm nozzle for some that were not designed to be this small. I will be releasing more inserts for this new size as the seasons roll on.

Photos!

Yes the aspect ratio is a common photo one of 2:3 just print on normal paper and insert in front of a white PLA panel.

I also use PVA sheets to go in front of the picture, just use scissors to cut them, using a panel as a guide:

6mmx4mm Magnets

If you want a really easy way to remove the top I suggest using magnets and you have several options here. The holes are 6mm diameter by 4.2mm, you can simply use 6x4mm diameter magnets which will provide a super strong connection or…

6mmx2mm Magnets

I suspect many of you have 6mmx2mm magnets if you’ve played with gridfinity. If you want simplicity, print 2mm spacers and pop these in with opposing poles facing each other, you know how magnets work.

Want a smarter setup? Alternate the magnet poles as you go around the Core instead of keeping them all the same.

Why? Because it keeps the system reversible — you can flip or stack sections in any orientation without losing alignment.

Make the magnets Stand proud, use a 1mm spacer with the south pole and 3mm with the North pole. Now when you put parts together they can’t slide!

Proud Without Spacers

If you purchase 6mm x 1mm magnets and 6mm x 3mm magnets then you can follow the same approach as above but without the hassle of adding spacers!

Additional Tiny Tested Inserts

Be sure to visit my Patreon (patreon.com/TrustedDevelopments) where you will find details additional inserts in this valentine series and many other inserts and lantern options, some for free members and others for paid members or one off purchase.

I will be releasing more inserts tested for this size as the seasons roll through.