3D Print Magnetic Octopus Toy

This is an upgrade to the Instructable I posted last month. It's a fun, hands-on toy that combines cords, magnetic interaction, and 3D printing into one eye-catching creation. Designed with a central 3D-printed head, eight paracord legs, each ending in a uniquely shaped foot that contains a strong magnet. This allows the toy to "stick" to magnetic surfaces in playful, poseable ways. Whether you're into DIY toys or enjoy creative builds, this project is a great way to blend design, movement, and interactivity. Follow along to make your own!

Tools:

1. 3D Printer
2. Scissors
3. Tape Measure
4. Lighter
5. Sharpie

Materials:

1. Filament
2. Paracord - 4mm (~ 7 feet)
3. Magnets - 7mm x 2mm (x8)
4. Superglue

This step shows CAD images of the design. Refer back as needed when working on the build.

Print files. You will need:

1. Head (x1)
2. Hat - multiple to choose from
3. Cord_End (x8)
4. Cord_End_Bottom (x8)

This project is entered in the Mad Hatter Contest, so I decided to give the Octopus multiple options for hats. The design is ,interchangeable, so you can print multiple options:

1. Smooth
2. Hair
3. Cowboy
4. Witch
5. King

Cut 8 pieces of paracord to 10" long. Use a lighter to clean up the ends. While still in the melted state, pull a wet rag across the ends to remove the melted ball. This is important since the cord needs to fit through small holes.

Feed the cord through the head. Tie a knot. This prevents the cord from pulling back through the hole. Trim excess material.

Feed the cord through the Cord End. Tie a knot. Trim excess material. Repeat 7 more times.

Take your time on this step. Mark the magnet's polarity before pressing it into the printed part. This is important if you want the magnets to stick together (vs. repel) later. For my build, I ensured that all eight legs would stay together with matching sets of magnets.

The magnets should be an interference fit with the Cord_End_Bottom. I used an Allen wrench and hammer to push the magnet to the bottom of the part.

Attach Cord_End_Bottom to Cord_End. Depending on your printer/settings, this could be an interference fit. Mine was slightly loose, so I used superglue for the attachment.

Feed the other end of the paracord through one of the holes on the head

Repeat the process for the other cord assemblies. For the other ends, check the magnet's polarity before pressing it into the printed part. This is important if you want the magnets to stick together (vs. repel) later.

To add contrast, I painted the eyes. These should be an interference fit. If not, glue into place.

Ok, so what can you go with this? Unexpectedly, I found the cords support the head so the Octopus can be self-standing. Note that the hat weight plays into this. The lightest head (smooth top) allowed for easier positioning.

Next, I went around the house looking for ferromagnetic materials to attach the toy. I found a few quick places to snap photos:

1. Switch Plate
2. Trash can
3. Light
4. Water Bottle

As I mentioned earlier, when matched, the magnets also attract each other. This gives more options for positioning. My dog somehow puts up with me :).

It was a fun little project. Please post if you build your own or any type of variant. Thanks for viewing.