Things are moving along with my Maker Mom residency at mHUB, Chicago’s innovation center for physical product development and manufacturing. I’m learning about and working with modern manufacturing technologies, like carving machines and thermal formers, as well as interviewing local makers. And I finally made my first 3D print!
As pictured, I reached for the low-hanging fruit. My item, a ruler/bubble wand, is practically 2D. Nobody seems really impressed by it. But it’s not about them; it’s about me. I intentionally focused my first 3D printing experience more on process than product.
My goals for the first 3D printing project were to:
- Get a feel for 3D design software.
- Learn to download the .stl file for printing.
- Learn to thread the filament and prepare the printer for printing.
- Transfer and print my file.
All basic items, but also things I’d never done before. This project allowed me to meet all of those goals without getting too bogged down in the design process.
TinkerCAD 3D Design Tool (Not Just For) Kids
As an mHUB member, I have access to a full suite of professional Autodesk software, like Fusion 360, on site, but I wanted to be able to work on my design at home or even in a coffee shop. (Note that students–and possibly educators–can get free Autodesk accounts.) I wanted free cloud-based software and, as someone with absolutely no 3D design experience, I wanted something with a low learning curve. Hello, TinkerCAD!
TinkerCAD is all of those things. It’s easy to create an account and it only takes a few minutes to run through their basic tutorials. Because it’s part of the Autodesk lineup, I like to think that it will prepare me to use the more sophisticated programs that I can access down the line through mHUB. I’ll want to use Autodesk’s AutoCAD software when I’m ready to create a design for our laser cutter. (Soon, I hope.)
At any rate, it seems TinkerCAD should satisfy my basic 3D design needs for quite some time.
My First 3D Print
Although somewhat lacking in dimension, I started with a blank digital canvas with this first print. I note that with pride it’s easy to download and print or modify and then print other people’s 3D designs.
I learned how to:
- create an object (a large rectangle)
- manipulate the object’s dimensions (height, width, and length)
- make holes in the object
- create a workplane
- add text to my object via the workplane
- jive what I see on my screen with what comes out in the real world
To save time and materials, 3D printers typically do not create solid objects, nor do they leave the inside of an object hollow. Rather, they use a light criss-cross or honeycomb internal fill to provide support for the 3D object.
Perfection is the Enemy of Good Enough
My simple-looking project was a great way to get me started. Admittedly, because these types of PLA 3D printed objects are quite porous, it’s not ideal bubble wand. I should have trimmed down the height even further for it to serve as a better functioning bubble wand. (Think of how thin a traditional bubble wand is.) But again, the point here was to create an original object in a novel way. There’s plenty of time for perfection and more challenging projects.
{glances at calendar}
Okay, the clock is ticking on my residency. So much more to learn, so much more to make!
It’s intimidating, but also invigorating, to try new things. I’d love to hear how you’ve challenged yourself lately!