A guide to building structures with Nodes

No third party tools required!

Building Panels

Discover how to combine Framework components into strong, larger panels.

Joining Intersections

Learn how to combine Bricks at 90 degree angles to make intersections!

Disassembly

Learn how to dismantle your creations so that you can reuse your pieces to forge something new!

FAQs

Tips and Tricks

Learn the secrets of the pros!

Intro

Welcome to the Framework assembly building guide! Thank you again for being our patreon and choosing Nodes!

In this section we're going to dive into how to work with the Frameworks modules, from basic assembly all the way to disassembly, and some tips and tricks, and some trap cards to avoid! If you can't find what you need in this section please feel free to reach out to us over on Discord. So without further adeu lets get into it

Framework assembling

Tools

Nodes is designed for toolless assembly, however tools really do make your life easier, it's what they're there for. We've designed Framework <link to frame work> to make it so that you can just smash the pieces together, we prefer stomping on them, we def don't recommend pressing with your thumbs, as it might be a bit to strong for that.

There are two tools, the Prybar, and the Mallet, both are modular in design and can be altered based off of your needs! They b oth have an extendable handle that can be screwed on/off to alter the size slightly.

IMAGE: TOOLS

Mallet

A short caption

The mallet is a convenience function for assembling Framework. Framework is designed to be connected by lining Omni Connectors up and pressing them together. However, there may be a lot of force required to connect the Omni Connector as more often than not you will be trying to connect many Omni Connectors and not just one. So although one may be easy to connect, many will be more difficult. This is where the Mallet comes in. The mallet allows you to line th Omni Connectors up and hit it with the mallet to connect.

However, there is a correct amount of force required, to much, and you could cause harm to the pieces, to little and the pieces won't connect. More often than not a light to medium tap is all that's required. We actually recommend not printing the mallet head with solid infill, and just using 15% infill is fine, as that provides plenty of force to connected pieces of Framework together.

IMAGE: Modular mallet assembling

Prybar

A short caption

The Prybar is almost the only way to disconnect framework. Framework is designed to be nearly impossible to disconect, unless you follow a "hokey pokey" set of procedures, which essentially means that you gotta do something exactly a specific way, or it's not gonna work. The prybar is designed to do this hokey pokie maneuver to disconnect Nodes. Simply insert the fork end into the crack between the pieces of Framework and pry. Sometimes the forks will be to large, don't worry, just use the hammer to pound it in!

We recommend working your way around the edges for stronger pieces. This way, you won't break the prongs off the prybar. We've already gone ahead and reinforced the prongs, but there is still a change that you will eventually break the prongs off, but that's ok, since you can just print yourself a new prybar!

IMAGE OF PRYBAR

POPUP VIDEO: PRYBAR Disconnecting stuff

Building Panels

Panels are the most basic shape that you can make with nodes. The are just a flat plane that extends in space. Panels allow you to create flat surfaces in any dimension that you need. Building panels is really easy!! All you need are some pieces that you layer on top of each other and voila! You have a plane that is connected.

We recommend starting out with a brick to get you going and connecting some of these on their sides. We recommend a brick that is 1 unit tall, so that it can mate on the sides. You'll first want to lay out all of your bricks, and create a flat surface by connecting them on their sides. It is recommend that you stagger the connection lines, so that you build out one row at a time, and then stagger another row on top of it.

1 - Design Your Panel
The first step is to determine what you need. What size panel do you need? How strong does it need to be?
Learn More
2 - Assemble the Core
The second step is to assemble the core. This is the inner most layer of components that will have other components stacked on top of it. This is usually made with Bricks.
Learn More
3 - Layer Components
The final step is to layer components on to your core. You can add as many layers on top as you'd like to increase the strength of the panel.
Learn More

GIF of panel being made

Design Your Panel

A short caption

The first step to creating a panel is determining the size of the panel that you'll need. This is going to vary depending on your needs, and is one of the most powerful components of Nodes. Panels can be any length/width plus or minus 2 centimeters, ensuring that whatever size you need, you can make! The height of panels can range from ~1cm up to as thick as you'd like, the more layers you add, the stronger and heavier the panel will be.

The possible combinations from thinnest to thickest are:
1.) Veneer + Grout + Veneer
2.) Veneer + Mortor0.5 + Veneer
3.) Veneer + Mortor 1.0 + Veneer
4.) Veneer + Brick + Veneer

But really you can make any combination that you'd like! All of the different heights for Mortor and Bricks are designed so that they can be stacked together to create standard height sizes.

GIF: A panel resizing and adding layers

Assemble the Core

A short caption

After you've designed your panel, the next thing you'll want to do is assemble your core. This is the inner most layer that all of the layer's will be attached to.

The core is always the hardest layer to assemble, but once it's together, the rest of the layers become really easy to stack on top.

For Bricks, it's straight forward, you just line up the sides, and hit them together with the mallet. We recommend butting one end of a Brick up against a wall, and then banging another Brick into it.

For Mortor, we recommend layering out one layer of Mortor on a flat surface such as a table, and then lining up the second layer such as Veneer on top of it. We recommend doing a light attachment, such as only connecting one or two connectors while doing this, so that you can lay your shape out flat, and then smash it all together with the mallet to create the first plane.

GIF/IMAGE: BRICKS BUTTING AT THE SIDE

Layer Components

Once you've got your core assembled, the next step is to start layering components on top. Depending on your design, you could layer Veneer, Mortor, Bricks, or Grout to create more strength.

When adding another layer of components on top, you want to take care to try and overlap all of the connection points. Overlapping the connection points is what gives Framework it's strength, as the connection points are the weakest point of the panel, so by overlapping other components over the connection line, we stagger the weak point, thus ensuring there is no weak point through out our panel.

When layering Bricks, Mortor, and Veneer, you can optionally decide to insert Grout in between the two component types. This is what Grout is designed for! To fit inbetween the gaps of the connectors, and add one more layer of strength while keeping the panels thin and aesthetically pleasing.

GIF: LAYER STACKNG

Add Side Walls

Optional

The final step is to add side walls. Not all panels are going to have side walls, as only Bricks have side connectors to allow for a side wall.

Don't forget this step! Adding the side walls actually adds a lot of strength to your panels, as it adds one more layer of stability!

GIF: Side wall pieces connecting/disconnecting

Hero Image of Framework

Intersections

Now that you know how to build flat planes, called panels, lets talk about how you can join panels at 90 degree angles to form structures.

There are two different ways of creating intersections, Corners 1.0 and Corners 2.0

Corners
Corners are the most obvious way to create intersections. They were our first attempt at ensuring that Framework would be able to secure panels at 90 degree angles, and ensure that it could resist shearing loads.

Assembling these is fairly straight forward, so we won't go into much detail. All you really need to do is use the same process as connecting panels, but this time, just connect your corner!
Brackets

Brackets are a much lighter weight version of Corners. They are the culmination of endless hours of research and development to come up with our most elegant solution to solving the cornering issue. They are designed to use significantly less pieces, while allowing more reuse of Bricks, making it so that you don't lose filament on pieces that are forced to be Corners.

Assembling Brackets can be tricky if you don't know the secret techniques. But don't worry, we're about spill those beans so that you can become a cornering master in no time!

Assembling Brackets

A short caption

Brackets can be a bit of a puzzle to assemble, as the order that you put them together does matter! But don't worry, it's super simple once you know what's going on, there might just be a few gotchas on your way there. But that's what this guide is here for! To help you avoid these road blocks and get you on your way!

Brackets are design to connected to Bricks, however, if you want to connect to a Mortor, that's no problem either! All you have to do is layer more Mortor on until it's the same height as a Brick, and it will connect right into Brackets!

The most basic connection is to connect two bricks at a 90 degree angle, not at a corner. All you have to do, is press the Brackets in around the intersecting Bricks, and then use the special brackets Veneer to secure them into place.

Pro Tip: Brackets are design to flex. Don't worry about breaking them, they look more fragile than they actually are! And with everything in Framework, pieces don't tend to really break... they tend to just get smaller =P

IMAGE: Basic corner connection Brick --> Corner
VIDEO: Basic corner connection Brick --> Corner

Assembling an L Corner

click on image to see video

Now that we've got a basic understanding of how to insert Bricks into Brackets, lets put together an L Corner!

Step 1.) Connect the first Brick

Hold the L Bracket firmly in one hand, and press the Brick into the side wall at a slight angle. It's ok if it flexes, keeping pressure, press down until the Brick snaps into the Grout connector portion of the Brackets.

Step 2.) Connect the second Brick

Repeat step 1, but for the second side

Step 3.) Add inner bracket

Now that we've gotten the outer bracket connected to our Bricks, we need to insert the inner bracket. They're the exact same piece, just one goes on the inside of the corner and one goes on the outside of the corner.

Step 4.) Add the veneer
Make sure you choose the correct direction, as brackets have a special version of Veneer that they use with one cut off end so that they can butt together perfectly at the corners

Step 5.) Add side veneer
Cover the side with a normal 2x2 Veneer

All you need to do now is to attach another Brackets on top of a brick and then press

IMAGE: L INTERSECTION ASSEMBLING

VIDEO: CONNECTING AN L INTERSECTION

C Bracket Assembly

Click on image to see video

Now that we've got a basic understanding of how to create L Corners, lets talk about how to create a C Corner. A C corner is just an L corner with one more side attached to it

1.) Make an L corner

Make sure that you are using the special Brackets C corner pieces. These are denoted by their 45 degree angle tip.

When you put the inner Brackets in, it will be flush with the edge of the Brick, however, the outer corner will have the point one unit past the edge of the L bracket

3.) connect all of the inner corners to the current L Corner

4.) Add the final 2 outer corners to the 3rd wall

5.) Join the 3rd wall to the L corner.

This might be a little bit tricky. You'll want to press one wall in first, you'll need to go at an angle, and smoothly press down. This is probably the trickiest connection to make in Brackets. But once you get the hang of it. Its super easy

6.) Connect the final Brackets

Lay the current object down flat, so that it's not resting on any side, but rather the ends of all 3 sides are touching the ground. Now, use the mallet to firmly smack the last connect dead on the corner. And voila, it will snap into place!

7.) Attach all of the Brackets to Veneer

8.) Make sure everything is connected nicely, some of the interior pieces may need a wack with the mallet to secure into place.

GIF: FULLY ASSEMBLED C CORNER assembling/disassembling

VIDEO: C CORNER ASSEMBLY

Disassembly

Disassembling Framework is incredibly easy if you have the prybar tool. If you don't have the prybar tool, then it's next to impossible. Framework is designed this way, to ensure that it only disassembles when you want it to! And never under goes a "rapid unplanned disassembly".

To remove a component from Framework, simple insert the prongs of the prybar tool into the holes/grooves and pry upwards. You may need to lightly tap the prybar in with the mallet.

Pro Tip: Start around the edges and work your way towards the center.

Pro Tip 2: Once you get it up a litte bit you can just push the pry bar down and through the two components to get a rapid disconnection

GIF: PRY BAR DISCONNECTING VENEER FROM BRICK

Table of Contents

Country/region

Intro

Framework assembling

Tools

Mallet

Prybar

Building Panels

1 - Design Your Panel

2 - Assemble the Core

3 - Layer Components

GIF of panel being made

Design Your Panel

Assemble the Core

Layer Components

Add Side Walls

Hero Image of Framework

Intersections

Corners

Brackets

Assembling Brackets

Assembling an L Corner

C Bracket Assembly

Disassembly

GIF: PRY BAR DISCONNECTING VENEER FROM BRICK