Mouse Lockboxes - 3D printing files and videos

<p>This repository contains 3D printable STL files for the mouse lockboxes (LB) and videos of mice solving the lockboxes. Lockboxes are mechanical puzzles consisting of one or more steps, which are baited with a food reward. The mice manipulate the lockboxes on a voluntary basis.</p> <p><strong>LB sets</strong>: Two LB sets were designed, each consisting of four single mechanism LBs (1-step) and a combined mechanism LBs (4-step). For the latter, the fours single mechanisms block each other and have to be removed in the correct order to open the box. The LB can be baited with a food reward to motivate the animals to open them.<br>In the folder titled <em>"LB_solutions"</em>, there are GIFs of each single and combined mechanism LB, which demonstrate how the LBs are supposed to be opened.<br>In the construction manual <em>("Instruction_Manual_Lock_Boxes.pdf")</em>, the STL files for each LB are listed and construction plans are provided. The STL files can be found in the folder titled <em>"LB_sets.zip"</em>.</p> <p><strong>Door system</strong>: The door systems can be used to connect two cages.</p> <p><strong>Printing</strong>: We used an Ultimaker 3 Extended and an Ultimaker S3, 0.4 mm nozzles, and PLA of different colors as material. The gcode was generated with Cura_SteamEngine 4.4.0. Since the mice may gnaw on the LB, it is advisable to choose a higher value for the thickness of walls and top, e.g., 1.5 mm. For most elements, the normal profile (0.15 mm) can be used; for small elements such as the seals, the fine profile is beneficial.</p> <ul> <li>Wall Thickness: 1 mm</li> <li>Wall Line Count: 10</li> <li>Top/Bottom Thickness: 1 mm</li> <li>Top Layers: 10</li> <li>Bottom Layers: 3</li> <li>Infill Density: 20 %</li> <li>Infill Pattern: Triangles</li> <li>Support should be generated for the following elements: LB#1_single_drawer.stl, LB#1_single_cube.stl, LB#1_single_disc.stl, LB#2_single_lever.stl, LB#2_single_stick.stl, LB#1_combined_stick.stl, LB#1_combined_cube.stl, LB#1_combined_disc.stl, LB#2_combined_ lever.stl, LB#2_combined_ stick1.stl, LB#2_combined_ stick2.stl</li> <li>Build Plate Adhesion is necessary for the following elements: LB#1_single_drawer.stl, LB#1_single_lever.stl; LB#1_single_seal1.stl, LB#1_single_cube.stl, LB#1_single_seal2.stl, LB#2_single_lever.stl, LB#2_single_stick.stl, LB#2_single_seal4.stl, LB#2_single_seal5.stl, LB#2_single_seal6.stl, LB#1_combined_stick.stl, LB#1_combined_lever.stl, LB#1_combined_cube.stl, LB#1_combined_seal1.stl, LB#1_combined_seal2.stl, LB#2_combined_lever.stl, LB#2_combined_stick1.stl, LB#2_combined_stick2.stl, LB#2_combined_ball.stl, LB#2_combined_seal3.stl, LB#2_combined_seal6.stl</li> </ul> <p><strong>Videos</strong>: The videos in the folder titled "videos" demonstrate how mice solve the lockboxes.</p>