3D Printing: Where to Start?
1 - Create a Tinkercad account (if you are 13 or younger, you need to ask your parents for permission!)
2 - Join the Design District Tinkercad Classroom (the code is FW4GCYI13AT4 if the link isn't working, please provide Ms. Polowin or Ms. Morgan your Nickname in order to get added to the class).
3 - Think about what you would like to design. All personal projects cost $2 to print. A 3D print for the school or a classroom project will be covered by the DD Club. When you get stuck or are unsure of a particular design component, talk to a peer or look for solution with online resources.
4 - The dimensions of your Design are important - please look at the machine you are going to use and plan accordingly
Cubicon Style is 150mm x 150 mm x 150mm
Dremel is 254mm x 154mm x 170mm
Bambu Lab is 177mm x 177mm x 177mm
THE SNAPGRID IS 1.0 BUT THE SQUARES YOU SEE REPRESENT 1 CM. IF YOU ZOOM IN YOU WILL SEE SMALLER SQUARES THAT REPRESENT THE 1.MM
Double check the size of your project by pressing the R KEY an L shaped ruler should pop up. You can now click your project and the measurements should pop up in millimeters.
5 - When you have created your design, make sure you save it with your name, date and homeroom (for example: MsFPSAOct9EMF8Z)
6 - When you have finished and saved your design, export it as an .stl file (remember you need to change the random title you have been assigned in Tinkercad to you name, the date and your homeroom!)
7 - Complete THIS FORM to send your file to one of the Design District teachers
Links: TinkerCAD | LaunchPad3D |
Don't know where to start? Explore the links below OR try designing the bookmark on the slides linked above.
TinkerCAD
TinketCAD is the free, web-based design software that lets you create your 3D shapes. Your designs are stored online, so you can work from any computer at school or home.
Some tips and pointers can be found here.
Tutorials:
Basics: Design a wrench: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xfIu-lqAs
Keychain Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxSLd2V0iwg
Wrench Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60xfIu-lqAs
Advanced Organic Shapes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyYeR76vEzE
Old File slicing (do not use without direction from a teacher)
Launchpad3D - You need to use this website to slice your design for the black Cubicon Style 3D printer
Once your design is done in TinkerCAD, you will need to export it as a 3D file (.stl) and load it into Launchpad3d.ca. Launchpad is the "slicer" that tells the 3D printer how to create your product.
Tutorial: https://www.inksmith.ca/blogs/tutorials/launchpad-3d-slicing-software-tutorial
Once you have designed your object to print, follow the steps below to "slice" your project and prepare it for the 3D printer. You will need to save the downloaded .hvs file onto a USB with an SD card reader (provided in the Design District).
DO NOT USE WITHOUT DIRECTION FROM YOUR TEACHERS, we have established a new system.
If you are designing your 3D prints at home, follow these steps and email the 3D .hvs file to Ms. Morgan at eleri.morgan@ocdsb.ca or Ms. Polowin at meghan.polowin@ocdsb.ca
For the Cubicon Style 3D printer (two smaller black printers):
Download an .stl file
Go to “Devices” (top left corner) & select “Cubicon Style”
Delete the cube on the screen & start with a blank screen
In the top right of the screen, click on "Import"
Once your file is imported, look at how it fits on the grid - do you need to adjust the size? Add rafts (does it need something to build upon)? Add supports (does your project have items that aren’t supported from the ground up?)
Select “Slice”
Once your file has "sliced" (the colour will change), hover over the "Slice" button and an "export" button will pop up. Click on that to export your file (the length of the print will pop up in this box once exported, do NOT print something that takes hours and hours to print as this is a shared device, talk to a teacher if you are unsure)
Rename your file to your name, the date and your homeroom (for example: "MmeMorganOct 20EMF8Z" then click "download"
Save file on the SD card (special USB)
Place SD card in right side of 3D printer
Select file on the 3D printer display, press “OK”
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