Portable Go Set

A 3D printable, full size Go (Baduk, Weiqi) set designed for portability.

The main board is full (Japanese) size, split into four segments which attach together with magnets. The box also features a full size 9x9 board on the lid for quick games or teaching a curious onlooker how to play.

Also in the box are stone containers with lids suitable for standard size stones. You can either print the stones supplied in the profile or supply your own.

The dimensions for this set were taken from the equipment dimensions on Sensei's Library.

Assembly

You will require 2x Board Segment A and 2x Board Segment B.

The A and B variants are different as Go boards are not square. They are slightly elongated so they look square when sat in front of them.

This model requires 72 3x2 mm magnets.

That is, 3 mm in diameter and 2 mm deep. These can be found quite cheaply on Amazon:

• UK: https://amzn.eu/0phLpHG
• US: https://a.co/d/5kLO2bH

When inserting the magnets, I recommend inserting them so the ‘A’ board segments have the same polarity. Then, insert the magnets in the ‘B’ segments with the opposite polarity.

To secure the magnets, add a drop of superglue to the face of the magnet and then press it into the hole. Once you finish a side, go along and press them in with a small stick (I used a cocktail stick) to ensure they're fully seated.

At the time of writing, the 3x2 mm magnet size was not available via Maker Supply. If this changes I will add links.

In addition, you will require two plates each of the black and white stones (90 per plate).

These are separate plates as white stones are slightly smaller than black stones. This is to counteract an optical illusion which makes white stones appear larger when placed next to black stones.

You can of course supply your own stones. However, please bear in mind that glass, ceramic (or even clamshell and slate if you want to get spenny) will add significant weight. If you want to keep it portable, plastic stones may be preferable.

The printable stones supplied are actually surprisingly nice to play with (the players at my local club certainly thought so).

Plates containing spares have also been supplied for when you inevitably lose some.

Printing

I highly recommend using the supplied profile to print this model. A number of tweaks have been made to maximise success in both the profile and the CAD model (for the board segments especially).

I also recommend printing this on a smooth build plate to give a smooth playing surface. I use the Bambu Lab Smooth PEI Plate.

Ensure you thoroughly clean and dry your build plate before each print. I recommend using dish soap and warm water, ensuring the plate is properly rinsed to remove any soap residue. Dry with a paper towel and avoid touching the plate surface.

When printing the boards, ensure you print the main board colour before the line colour (Brown before Black), as printing the lines first can give issues with bed adhesion. I think this is just due to laying down the fine lines on their own, but printing the brown squares first seems to be fine and gives something for the black grab onto.

If you have an enclosed printer, I recommend keeping the door shut when printing the boards and boxes to minimise any warping of the material on the large, flat surfaces. If you have an open printer such as an A1 you should be fine, but if you do need to make any adjustments then please do share your profile.

The model pictured was printed with the supplied profile in the following materials:

• Bambu PLA Matte Latte Brown (11800)
• Bambu PLA Matte Charcoal (11101)
• Bambu PLA Matte Dark Brown (11801)
• Bambu PLA Matte Ivory White (11100)

Due to the size of the model, unfortunately, it is not compatible with the Bambu Lab A1 Mini. Any printer with a smaller build plate than a Bambu Lab P1 / X1 / A1 will likely struggle I'm afraid.