3D Printed Heart Pendant in 123D Design

Today you will create a heart pendant in 123D Design (free to download) and 3D print your design.

These examples were created in 123D Design, then uploaded to TinkerCad.

Design Goals

- A design less than 50mm (10 squares) x 40mm (8 squares) x 6mm
- A design that prints in under 18 minutes

Learning Outcomes

- Intro to 123D Design
- Transforming a Sketch into a 3D Object
- Emphasis on Sketch, Extrude, Subtract

Open 123D Design

Take a look around. File options are in the top left, the toolbar is top center, and the View Cube is in the top right. Check out Autodesk's 123D Design Quick Overview later for review.

The default unit of measurement is millimeters (mm), and each square on the grid is 5mm by 5mm.

Try out the Sketch Tools

Take a couple minutes to try Sketch>Polyline to discover an easy way to draw.

Now take a couple minutes to try Sketch>Spline to discover how to create curved lines.

Once you have explored, you can delete practice sketches by using the mouse to select all sketches, and tapping Delete on the keyboard.

Draw a Heart

Decide if you want a boxy heart, or a curved heart, and try to draw it.

Remember, the width of the heart should be less than 50mm wide (10 squares on the grid), and less than 40mm long (8 squares on the grid).

If at first you don't succeed, delete and try again! Examples are provided in the slides below:

123D Design Heart

Extrude

When you have completed your heart, use Construct>Extrude to transform your Sketch into a 2.5mm deep object.

Add Features

Using your new poly/spline skills, draw another shape within the heart. When you are satisfied with the shape, Construct>Extrude the new shape to 5mm.

Chamfer/Fillet

Chamfer and Fillet can connect edges of shapes with an angle (chamfer) or rounded curve (fillet).

Look at your design's edges. It has the outer edge, for the first sketch you drew. And it has an edge where the 2.5mm surface meets the side of the 5mm shape. And it also has the edges of the 5mm features.

You can use chamfer or fillet on any of those edges, or on connected edges (Tangent Chain).

Hanging Hole

This is a pendant! Add a hanging hole by selecting Primitives>Cylinder. Before even moving the mouse, tap 3 so the cylinder has a 3mm diameter. Position the cylinder where the hole should be.

To subtract, select Combine>Subtract. Target refers to the shape we want to alter, and source refers to the shape that will alter it. First, select the heart model, then select the cylinder, and tap Enter to complete.

Save, and Export STL

Amazing work!

Save your file in the 123dx format so you can come back with your file during Open Shop.

Then, Export STL and save to Desktop. You can select Yes when 123D Design asks about Grouping. Keep the program open as we collect your files!

Bring your file back during Open Shop to make a larger pendant, or a two-sided pendant!