Exploring iteration: Tinkercad Snowflakes

The Why

Computers are awesome for doing repetitive tasks. Once you show a computer how to do something once, it can do that same thing over and over and over without mistakes. You can also use that same process to create really interesting art!

The Challenge

Using iteration, trial and error, math, and capitalizing on "happy mistakes", create the most intricate and interesting snowflake that can be 3D Printed.

View Mr. Bush's Classroom example here.

To be 3D Printed, your snowflake must:

• fit on a 14 cm X 14 cm build plate
• be level with the build plane (nothing below)
• Grouped together as one solid object (no loose pieces)
• reasonably conserve filament
• Be interesting!

Day 1 & 2: Iterate a snowflake

Create a new code block project in Tinkercad.

Use iteration and trial and error to add functions and tweak their parameters and design a leg on a snowflake. Take a look at Mr. Bush's example for inspiration. Here's another and another example to look at.

Don't delete any project. If you don't like a design, create a new project.

Output: Snowflake Leg

Day 4: Get Set for 3D Printing

Sign into one of the desktop computers in the lab with your student login credentials.

Log into Chrome with your BSD account.

Log into Tinkercad. Make sure your design is between 5 cm and 6 cm and sits on the build plane. Add the blocks to the right to make that happen.

Export your file as an STL.

Choose FlashPrint or QidiPrint. Load your design. Screenshot it when ready.

Output: Screenshot of your design & an STL file of your design that is ready to print

Warning: Don't use the tutorial in your final design.

Beware the tutorial and Mr. Bush's example. You can use the snowflake tutorial and the example to learn how to use Codeblocks but do not use these projects in your final design. If your project looks too similar to the design to the right or at the top of the page you will get a zero on the project.