Colour-sorting Connect Four

The pieces sort themselves when the board is lifted.

Connect Four with automatic sorting – a distinctive 3D-printed model

This Connect Four model sorts its pieces when the board is lifted. The built-in mechanism guides them into separate collection trays according to colour. No manual sorting is needed; the pieces are placed back into the board for the next round.

The sorting process itself invites exploration and observation of the mechanism. Adults with an interest in mechanics can also enjoy it as a fidget object, setting it in motion again and again. As a desk feature, a collectible or a gift for someone interested in technology, it brings form and function together.

The original design is by CyberYeti. I make the model using 3D printing with PLA filament. The board measures 17.5 × 15.3 × 7 cm (L × W × H); the pieces are 2 cm high.

The example photos show a white board with gold pieces and purple-blue-black pieces made from triple-colour filament. The overview shows eight colour variants: gold, red, dark red with a subtle glitter effect, purple with a subtle glitter effect, lime green, turquoise, blue with a subtle glitter effect, and purple-blue-black made from triple-colour filament.