Constructing a Model

40 minutes

1. Break up into teams
2. Collect straws and connectors
3. Build a wireframe structure using a set of straws and connectors.

You may cut or bend your straws. When constructing your forms, think about triangles, hexagons, grids and Archimedean, Platonic and Johnson solids.

Archimedean solids are symmetric, semi-regular convex polyhedrons composed of two or more types of regular polygons meeting at identical vertices. Platonic solid are composed of only one type of polygon that meets at identical vertices, and Johnson solids have regular polygonal faces that do not meet in identical vertices.

Sketching

15 minutes

Sketching is an important part of 3D modeling. By getting your ideas and dimensions of the object you want to model on paper, you can convey your ideas to others and you give yourself the opportunity to find misconceptions and mistakes before you spend time modeling.

Your sketches are your blueprints.

Drawing's real power lies in its immediacy and speed; its capacity to materialize thoughts and ideas quickly so that they can be expanded upon or shared before they disappear. The designer uses lines and marks to shepherd ideas into existence while they are still only partially formed in his or her mind.

This process— a cumulative rather than linear one— allows the designer to go back to a sketch and add to, or subtract from, it or simply revisit ideas on paper and continue the thinking process begun earlier. Such sketch ideation is not simply a matter of documentation or observation; instead it is a highly creative and dynamic act where the power and poetry of line can capture character and begin defining form or clarifying connections thereby enhancing communication. Sketching can be used to show cause and effect, time-based interactions, or form factors.

Henry, Kevin (2012-08-27). Drawing for Product Designers (Portfolio Skills) (Kindle Locations 109-115). Laurence King. Kindle Edition.

Digital Calipers

A digital or electronic caliper is a precision instrument that can be used to measure internal and external distances accurately.

When using digital calipers:

• Make sure that the surfaces are clean.
• Turn on the device, close the jaw and zero the measurement.
• When measuring the outside of an object use the lower jaw.
• When measuring an interior, use the upper jaw.
• When measuring depth use the base of the caliper. Rest the base on the top of the hole and adjust the depth measuring blade until it touches the bottom of the hole. The locking screw is tightened and the measurement can be read on the LCD display.

More Information about sketching

Modeling

Introduction to TinkerCad

20 minutes signup and demo
1 hour modeling

Tinkercad is an easy-to-use tool for creating 3D models for 3D printing. It is part of the Autodesk family of products, which are free and exist to enable students, makers, and individuals from all walks of life to design and make the things they imagine.

1. Navigate in a web-gl enabled browser (Chrome or Firefox) to tinkercad.com
   
2. If you have not already signed up for a free account, do so now
   
   
3. To exit the tutorial and start experimenting, exploring and modeling click on the Tinkercad logo:
   
   
4. To start a new model click on Create new design
   
5. For greater precision I toggle the Snap grid value between 0.1 and 1.0
   
6. To add shapes, letters and numbers you drag your selection from the palette on the right over to the workplane:
   
7. You can get the dimensions of an object by moving the cursor over the nodes or handles:
    
8. You can also get and/or modify the dimensions by laying down the ruler:
   
   
   
9. Drag the ruler to the corner of an object and click on the circle to select a quadrant to measure. This is helpful when you want to measure distances between objects:
   
10. You can resize your form by dragging the corner points (nodes) or using the ruler and editing the field:
    
    
11. Dragging the corner node while holding shift will increase the X,Y and Z axis proportionally:
    
12. You can copy and paste your forms using the standard keyboard commands. When you paste, Tinkercad will move your new form to the right:
    
13. You can raise the height of your form by dragging the node below the cone
    
14. You can subtract shapes from each other by placing the shape you want to remove, selecting it and then clicking on the the hole icon
    
15. You can still adjust the location of the hole by dragging the form
    
16. When you want to remove the shape, drag your cursor over or Shift+Left Click on both objects (what you want to keep and what you want to remove)
    
    
17. When both are selected, click on Group
    
18. To view the hole, rotate with the mouse:
    
19. Tinkercad's rotate tool allows you to change the angle of your model or part of your model along the x, y or z axis.
    
    Tinkercad allows you to choose your resolution by providing three rings. Once you start the rotation you can move your mouse over the appropriate band. The center band allow you to adjust the rotation by full degrees. The inner band adjusts the angle in increments of 22.5° (half of 45°) and the outer band allows you the most precision.
    
    You can easily rotate your objects by clicking on the rotation icons and then selecting the band:
    
    
    
    
    
    
20. You can move the workplane by placing it on a side of any of your forms. This allows you to add more forms on an angle:
    
21. To reset the workplane, just drag the workplane from the palette to the work area:
    
22. Tinkercad's Align tool allows you to align multiple objects.
    
    To use the Align tool. Select at least two objects by Shift left-clicking on them or by dragging a box around them. Once selected click on the Adjust Option at the top. Then select Align and move your mouse over a node to preview the move. Click the node to align the objects.
    
    
    • Select objects and click Adjust:
      
    • Now select Align
      
    • Click on the node you would like the forms to align with:
         
24. To save the STL file, click on Design and select Download for 3D Printing:
    
    
    Then select on the STL button:
    
25. Experiment, have fun, print
26. When you are ready to print your object, click on the Design menu and select Properties.
    
27. Rename your file and save the changes
    
28. From the Design menu select Download for 3D Printing:
    
29. Select on the STL button:
    

A few Tinkercad skill builder challenges

The Ditto Pro

Slicing