A Beginner's Guide to 3D Printing: 14 Simple Toy Designs to Get You Started - Softcover

Rigsby, Mike

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1569761973 ISBN 13: 9781569761977

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, 2014

Synopsis

3D printers have revolutionized the worlds of manufacturing, design, and art. But how does a person with little or no computer design experience create an object to print? The best way to learn is through hands-on experience. Professional engineer Mike Rigsby leads readers step-by-step through fourteen simple toy projects, each illustrated with screen caps of Autodesk 123D Design, the most common free 3D software available. The projects are later described using Sketchup, another free popular software package.

The toy projects in A Beginner’s Guide to 3D Printing start simple—a domino, nothing more than an extruded rectangle, a rectangular block. But soon you will be creating jewel boxes with lids, a baking powder submarine, interchangeable panels for a design-it-yourself miniature house, a simple train with expandable track, a multipiece airplane, a working paddleboat, and a rubber band–powered car. Finally, you will design, print, and assemble a Little Clicker, a noise making push toy with froggy eyes. Once trained in the basics, you will be able to embark on even more elaborate designs of your own creation.

About this title

About the Author

Mike Rigsby is a professional electrical engineer and author of Haywired and Doable Renewables. He has written for Popular Science, Robotics Age, Modern Electronics, Circuit Cellar, Byte, and other magazines.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A Beginner's Guide to 3D Printing

14 Simple Toy Designs to Get You Started

By Mike Rigsby

Chicago Review Press Incorporated

Copyright © 2014 Mike Rigsby
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-56976-197-7

Contents

Getting Started, 
1 Domino-Style Blocks, 
2 Spinning Button, 
3 Ring, 
4 Boxes and Lids, 
5 Baking Powder Submarine, 
6 Bicycle Spinner, 
7 Dollhouse, 
8 Catapult, 
9 Train, 
10 Train Track, 
11 Airplane, 
12 Paddleboat, 
13 Drum, 
14 Rubber Band Car, 
15 Little Clicker, 
Going Further, 

CHAPTER 1

Domino-Style Blocks

This is an introductory project so you can get acquainted with the basics of 3D design. To create domino-style blocks using 123D Design, you will select a box and describe the dimensions of a domino-shaped block.

Go to Primitives and drop down to Box.

Left-click and release. A cube will appear. Move the cursor to the lower left area of the screen.

Type 8, then press the Tab key. Type 50, then press the Tab key. Type 25. Press Enter. This will create a box that is 8 mm by 50 mm by 25 mm.

Move the cursor to 123D in the upper left corner. On the drop-down menu, find Export STL and you are ready to print your first project.

Name the file "Block" and the ".stl" will be attached. Now you can send "Block.stl" to your 3D printer and a domino block will be created. This is called a "print" file and it is written in a language 3D printers can understand.

To save your design file (in case you want to add other details later), move the cursor to 123D and drop down to Save.

Print the block.

MAKING DOMINO-STYLE BLOCKS USING SKETCHUP

This introductory project can also be created using SketchUp. Start with a new file. Go to Camera, then drop down to Standard Views, then Front. Left-click and release.

Choose the Shape icon. Left-click and release. Drop down toRectangle. Left-click and release.

Move the pointer to the intersection of red and blue lines. Left-click and hold. Move the cursor right and slightly up. Type 50, 25 and press Enter. Release the left-click.

Choose the Zoom icon. Left-click and release. Move the pointer to the rectangle. Scroll until the rectangle fills most of the work area.

Move the cursor to the Push/Pull icon. Left-click and release.

Move the cursor inside the rectangle, close to the bottom. Left-click and hold. Move the cursor up slightly. Type 8. Press Enter, then release the left-click.

Go to the Select icon (first on left), left-click and release. Go to Edit, then drop down to Select All. Left-click and release.

Go to the menu at the top and choose File, then drop down to Export STL. Left-click. This file can be used to print a domino block.

To save the design file, choose File, then Save.

CHAPTER 2

Spinning Button

To create a spinning button, you will draw a circle, make that circle thick, then cut two holes in the thick circle.

Start by moving the cursor to the Sketch icon.

In the drop-down menu, move the cursor to Circle.

Left-click, and move the cursor down onto the grid.

Left-click two times. The first click will result in a check mark. The second click will produce a small dot.

Move the cursor. A box will appear with the message "Click to specify diameter."

Type 50 and "50" will appear in the box.

Left-click. Move the cursor to the Construct icon at the top of the page.

Drop down to the Extrude option. It is the far-left icon on the dropdown menu.

Left-click on the Extrude option and the check mark will go away.

Move the cursor inside the circle.

Left-click inside the circle. A box with "0.00 mm" will appear. Type 3 and "3" will appear in the box. Left-click.

Move the cursor to the upper right corner of the screen. Place the cursor on top of the cube. This cube indicates the view direction.

Left-click and you will now view the button from the top.

Move the cursor to the Sketch icon at the top of the screen.

Drop the cursor down to the Circle icon.

Left-click. Move the cursor down into the circle. There is a tiny dot in the center of the circle. Move the cursor right from the center to the first intersection of grid lines.

Left-click two times, then move the cursor. A box with a number will appear.

Type 3 and it will appear in the box. This is the size of one of the holes in your button.

Left-click. Move the cursor to the Construct icon at the top of the page.

Drop down to the Extrude icon.

Left-click.

Move the cursor inside the small circle and left-click.

Type –3 and left-click. The "-" sign makes a hole "into" the button. If you had typed -2 and clicked, it would have produced an indentation, not a hole through the button. If you had typed 3 and clicked, a small cylinder would have protruded outward from the button.

Move the cursor to the Sketch icon at the top.

Drop the cursor down to the Circle icon.

Left-click. Move the cursor into the large circle, left of the center dot at the first intersection of crossing grid lines.

Left-click two times, then move the cursor slightly.

Type 3 and note that "3" appears in the box. Left-click.

Move the cursor to the Construct icon.

Drop the cursor down to the Extrude icon.

Left-click, then move the cursor into the large circle.

Move the cursor into the small left circle and left-click. Type –3 and "-3" will appear in the box.

Left-click.

Move the cursor toward the cube in the upper right corner. As the cursor approaches the cube, a small house will appear on the upper left corner of the cube. Left-click on the little house.

Move the cursor to the upper left, over the 123D in the corner.

Move the cursor down to Export STL and save your file for printing.

To save the design file, move the cursor to 123D in the upper left corner and drop down to Save.

Obtain a piece of string about 1 meter (3 feet) long. Thread the string through the button.

Tie the ends of the string together. Now, holding the ends of the string, spin the button about 20 revolutions. Gently pull and relax the ends of the string, and the button will continue to spin.

MAKING A BUTTON USING SKETCHUP

To create your button, go to the fifth icon from the left at the top of the screen (Shape). Left-click and release. Drop down to Circle. Left-click, release, and drag the circle to the intersection of red, green, and blue lines. Left-click and hold. Move the cursor slightly. Notice the box in the lower right that says "Radius" and displays a number. Type 25 and depress the Return key. Release the left-click. Move the cursor to the magnifying glassat the top of the screen (sixth from right). Left-click and release. Place the magnifying glass over the circle. Scroll until the circle gets larger.

Move the cursor to the top of the screen, sixth from the left (Push/Pull), then left-click and release. Move the cursor inside the circle (circle will fill with tiny black dots). Left-click and hold while moving the mouse downward. When the box in the lower right ("Distance") is "3.0mm," release the left-click. You have now created a button and given it thickness.

Now make the holes. At the top of the screen, select the Tape Measure(near the center of the icons) by left-clicking. Move the cursor toward the intersection of the red, blue, and green lines. When the little dot is at the intersection of the red, green, and blue lines, left-click. Move the dot along the red line (to the right) until the length (box in the lower right) indicates "5.0mm," then left-click. Notice that a small black dot has been placed on the red line. Move your cursor to the Shape/Circle icon at the top of the screen, then left-click and release. Move the center of the circle until it "snaps" onto the dot you just made on the red line. Left-click, release and move the cursor until the radius (lower right box) indicates "1.5mm." Left-click. Go to the top of the screen and find the Push/Pull icon (sixth from left) then left-click and release. Move the cursor until the small circle is filled with black dots. Left-click, hold and pull the cursor down. When the distance (lower right-hand box) indicates "-3.0mm" release the left-click.

Create another hole. Get the Tape Measure and mark a spot 5 mm to the left of the center of the circle. Using the Shape/Circle tool, center the circle on your mark and create a 1.5 mm — radius circle. Using the Push/Pull" tool, go downward 3 mm, making another hole.

Go to the icon menu, first icon on the left (an arrow), and left-click. Go to the word menu at the top, find Edit, and drop down to Select All. Left-click. All surfaces of the button should be covered in tiny black dots.

The button is complete. Go to the menu at the top and choose File. From the drop-down menu, choose Export STL. The "STL" file you created can be printed on your 3D printer.

To save your design file, choose File, then Save.

CHAPTER 3

Ring

To make a ring, you will draw a circle, make it thick, and cut out a hole for the finger. To make the ring more elaborate, you will draw a decorative shape and make the shape as thick as the ring.

Start by moving the cursor to Primitives, then drop down to the Cylinder icon.

Left-click, release and drag the cylinder down to the grid.

At the bottom of the screen is a box with a highlighted number in the "Radius" area. Type 11 and depress the Tab key. The "Height" area is now highlighted. Type 5 and depress the Enter key.

Note that the box at the bottom has disappeared.

Move the cursor to upper right corner of the screen, pointing to the top of the cube. (The top should be highlighted.)

Left-click and release. Move the cursor to the Sketch icon and go to the Spline icon in the drop-down choices.

Left-click, release, then move the cursor slightly inside the circle. (The interior of the circle will become almost transparent.)

Left-click two times. This will establish the first point in the freehand curve you are drawing.

Move outside the circle and left-click once.

Move to the right and — when you like the position — left-click one time.

Bring the line inside the circle and left-click once.

Bring the cursor back to the starting point and left-click one time. The object you have drawn will turn light gray.

Move the cursor to the Construct icon and drop down to the Extrude icon.

Left-click, release, and move the cursor inside the object you just drew.

Left-click and release. A box will appear with "0.00 mm" highlighted. Type –5 and move the cursor to the right of the "-5."

On the drop-down menu, left-click Merge. You are adding depth here, not cutting it away.

Depress Enter. This makes your created object 5 mm thick to match the cylinder, which already has 5 mm of thickness.

Move the cursor to the Sketch icon and drop down to the Circle icon.

Left-click, release and move the cursor to the center of the circle. Left-click two times, then move the cursor slightly.

Type 18 and it will appear in the highlighted box (and the circle will be drawn to a diameter of 18 mm).

Left-click and release. The message will change from "specify diameter" to "specify center of circle."

Move the cursor to the Construct icon and drop down to the Extrude icon.

Left-click, release, and move the cursor inside the circle you just drew. Left-click.

Type –5. (It will appear in the box near the cursor.) Depress the Enter key.

Move the cursor to the 123D in the upper left corner and drop down to the Export STL line. Left-click and save your file for printing.

The ring is now ready to print. Use the Enlarge/Reduce function of your printer to adjust the fit for different finger sizes.

To save your design file, move the cursor to the 123D in the upper left corner and drop down to Save.

MAKING A RING USING SKETCHUP

To create a ring, go to the fifth icon from the left at the top of the screen (Shape). Left-click and release. Drop down to Circle. Left-click, release, and drag the circle to the intersection of red, green and blue lines. Left-click and hold. Move the cursor slightly. Notice the box in the lower right that says "Radius" and displays a number. Type 11 and depress the Return key. Release the left-click. Move the cursor to the magnifying glass at the top of the screen (sixth from right). Left-click and release. Place the magnifying glass over the circle. Scroll until the circle gets larger.

Move the cursor to the top of the screen, sixth from the left (Push/Pull), then left-click and release. Move the cursor inside the circle (circle will fill with tiny black dots). Left-click and hold while moving the mouse downward. When the box in the lower right ("Distance") is "5.0mm," release the left-click.

Go to the fifth icon from the left at the top of the screen (Shape/Circle). (Shape can be a rectangle, circle, or polygon. When the instructions indicate Shape/Circle, drop down to Circle if it is currently set to Rectangle. When instructions indicate Shape/Rectangle, drop down to Rectangle if it is set to Circle.) Left-click, release and drag the circle to the intersection of red, green, and blue lines. Left-click and hold. Move the cursor slightly. Notice the box in the lower right that says "Radius" and displays a number. Type 9 and depress the Return key. Release the left-click.

Move the cursor to the top of the screen, sixth icon from the left (Push/Pull) then left-click and release. Move the cursor inside the circle. (The circle will fill with tiny black dots.) Left-click and hold while moving the mouse downward. When the box in the lower right ("Distance") is "5.0mm," release the left-click. You have created a ring. Next you will add a creative shape to the ring.

Take the cursor to the third icon from the left (Lines) and left-click on Freehand from the drop-down menu. Move the cursor to an edge on the top of the ring. Left-click, hold, and draw a shape of your choice. Bring the line back until it touches the ring, then release the left-click. The area inside the line you just completed should turn white.

Move the cursor to the top of the screen, sixth from the left (Push/Pull), then left-click and release. Move the cursor inside the shape you just drew. (The shape will fill with tiny black dots.) Left-click and hold while moving the mouse downward. When the box in the lower right ("Distance") is "5.0mm," release the left-click.

Go to the icon menu, first on the left (an arrow) and left-click. Go to the word menu at the top, find Edit, and drop down to Select All. Left-click. All surfaces of the ring should be covered in tiny black dots.

Go to the menu at the top and choose File, then drop down to Export STL. Left-click. This file can be used to print the ring you just designed.

To save the design file, choose File, then Save.

CHAPTER 4

Boxes and Lids

You will design a pirate's chest and an oval box in this chapter. You will take the box shape, make it thick, then cut out a hole. The lid will be printed in the same shape, with a lip to fit inside the hole.

The Pirate's Chest

Start with the pirate's chest. Go to Primitives and drop down to Box. Left-click and release.

Pull the cube down onto the grid (no mouse clicking).

Type 60 and it will appear in the "Length" box at the bottom of the screen. Press the Tab key. Type 45 and it will appear in the "Width" box. Press the Tab key. Type 35 and it will appear in the "Height" box.

Press the Enter key, then move the cursor to the top of the little cube in the upper right corner.

Left-click and release for a top view.

Move the cursor to Sketch and drop down to Rectangle. Left-click and release.

Pull the cursor into the highlighted rectangle. Place the point of the cursor 5 mm right and 5 mm up from the corner of the highlighted rectangle.

Left-click twice, then move the cursor toward the upper right corner. The lower box will be highlighted. Type 35 and press the Tab key. Type 50 and it will appear in the upper box.

Left-click, release, and move the cursor to Construct, then drop down to Extrude.

Left-click, then move the cursor inside the rectangle you just created. Left-click again.

Type –30 and it will appear in the box. Move the cursor to the right and you will see the word "subtract" drop down. Usually, the software knows what you want to do. "Subtract" means "to make a hole," while "Merge" means "to add something outward." It's a good idea to check this before you accept the operation. (If you wanted the rectangle to extend outward, then you would type 30 — no minus sign — and the little symbol to the right of the box would say "Merge.")

Depress the Enter key, then move to the 123D in the upper left corner and drop down to Export STL. Left-click and save your file for printing. To save your design file, go to the 123D and drop down to Save, then follow the instructions.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from A Beginner's Guide to 3D Printing by Mike Rigsby. Copyright © 2014 Mike Rigsby. Excerpted by permission of Chicago Review Press Incorporated.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Edition details

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1569761973
• ISBN 13: 9781569761977
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304