Description

Every day, every Walmart throws away long plastic spools.  They are the discard from the meat bags when they run out.  They do not have the proper labeling to be recycled.  It's up to us to help keep these spools from ending up in the landfill forever. 

Introducing:  Recycled Slide Adapter for Doplo Danish Blocks

You can print TPU adapters to chain as many of these "slides" together as you want.  Make sure to ask an associate for an empty spool -- don't just take it.  Definitely do not take it if it still has bags on it.  Use empty spools only.  The adapter presses inside the spool to connect two spools together.  They have a block with 4 anti-studs on the bottom allowing you to build the slide on top of a different Doplo creation.

"But you are printing plastic to rescue plastic!"

Yes.  That is correct.  To counter that philosophy, let's think about this in these ways:

1. If you want to build a slide, incorporating recycled materials reduces your footprint, regardless of how much plastic you are printing overall.  In other words, if you were going to build a slide anyway, this is a good alternative plan.  
2. By weight, you are saving more plastic than the amount you add by printing.  This project is beyond neutral.  You are reducing the plastic problem even though you are printing.
3. You can buy recycled filament.  That would eliminate even more of your footprint.  

"AI Assisted Design"

I use Gemini Pro as a coding assistant to help with the complex geometry and the math.  We create an Open SCAD file which results in a model that is deterministic by nature, thus eliminating the hallucinations that other "AI slop" has.  I test the models before releasing them.  

Bambu AMS Warning

Do not print this model using normal TPU in an AMS / AMS Lite.  You could potentially jam up your system.  You are better off using the spool holder and directly loading it into your toolhead.  I use a Prusa Mk3s for these kinds of prints because the slow, direct drive system handles the flexible material well. The Elegoo Neptune shines well here, too.

I did not include a Bambu print profile because I don't want anyone to click “Print” without reading about the project.  I have not experimented with TPU for AMS, and since it is a different flexibility, I cannot guarantee that it will work.