Imaginary Village - SCOPES Digital Fabrication
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Lesson Details

Subjects
Architecture, Geometry
Age Ranges
5-8, 8-11
Fab Tools
CAD, 3D printer
Author
Fab Foundation

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Author

Fab Foundation
Fab Foundation
Maker
Our mission is to provide access to the tools, the knowledge and the financial means to educate, innovate and invent using technology and digital fabrication to allow anyone to make (almost) anything, and thereby creating opportunities to improve lives and… Read More

Summary

Students will use TinkerCAD to create imaginary houses or buildings using basic geometric shapes. At the end of the lesson, each student will have their 3D printed building. Together, students will create each of the buildings making up the imaginary village.

What You'll Need

Materials:​ ​3D Printing Filament
Hardware:​ ​3D Printer
Software​: TinkerCAD

The Instructions

Step One: Introduction and presentation of 3D printing – 15 mins

In whole class, Introduce 3D printing with a video and presentation of your local equipment.

Recommended by Techno Culture Club: http://abc3d.technoculture.club/en/resources/presentation PBS Off the Book:

http://www.pbs.org/video/-book-will-3d-printing-change-world/

Future Engineers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTP-WBrAnPY Coursera – 3D printing at Fab Lab Champaign Urbana IL (start at 4:22):

https://www.coursera.org/learn/3d-printing-applications/lecture/PuC0A/learning-by-making-and-making-for-f un-at-the-fab-lab

Step Two: Overview of the activity – 5 mins

  1. Briefly explain the flow of steps for the day’s activities
  2. What will the participants do? : Create an imaginary home or building.
  3. Which software will be used? : TinkerCAD

Step Three: Log in each participant to the software TinkerCAD – 5 min

Log in each participant to the software TinkerCAD. Use a single account per class or teacher or school.

Ask each participant to log into the software TinkerCAD. Provide the username and password.

Step Four: Introduction to TinkerCAD – 15 min

TEACHER NOTE: Key concepts in TinkerCAD to show participants:

  • The workplane
  • Zoom in/out (scroll)
  • Rotation of the viewpoint (right-click and move mouse)
  • Reset the viewpoint (“Home view” button)
  • Pan view (hold shift + right-click, and move mouse)
  • Sidebar with various parts and how to place them on the workplane
  • The geometric primitives (“Basic Shapes” tab) available in the sidebar
  • The solid vs hole state of a shape
  • Selecting an object (left-click)
  • Selecting multiple objects (hold shift + left-click)
  • Using a selection box (hold left-click and move mouse, release left-click)
  • Group / ungroup multiple objects (adding / subtracting)
  • Handles for scaling and translating objects
  1. In whole class, run through the entire 3D modeling process to demonstrate the software TinkerCAD.
  2. Students observe while the teacher describes what they are doing.
  3. Ask students to follow along, up until the 3D printing step.
  4. After launching the 3D print of the demo model, students will prepare to create models.
  5. Students create their own 3D model.


TEACHER NOTE: Teacher moves around the room to assist and re-explain concepts as necessary. Demonstrate common questions or repeat challenging concepts to all participants. Often participants want reminders for how to select, group, and subtract objects.

More Resources: https://www.tinkercad.com/learn/

Step Five: Demo creating a model of imaginary building in TinkerCAD – 15 min

(If students need additional instruction, guide them through this process, otherwise allow them to explore on their own)

  1. Place a box on the workplace and make it taller (tower)
  2. Place a cone on top of the box, and align the shapes (roof)
  3. Group the objects. Important! The objects must be grouped to print properly
  4. Add a box, scale it down to a window, place it so it intersects the tower (window)
  5. Add a dome, scale it down to a doorway, place it at the base of the tower (door)
  6. Make sure the window and door are intersecting the tower. Select the window and door, set them to the “hole” state.
  7. Select all the objects (tower + roof + window + door) and group them together.
  8. Rename the file with your name
  9. Export the STL file
  10. Import the STL file in Tinkerine ou Cura
  11. Set the printing parameters and start the 3D print!

Extension: If your students are very new to TinkerCAD, try more lessons from AutoDesk Education on building a house.

Step Six: Student create their own model of imaginary building in TinkerCAD – 45 min

TEACHER NOTE: After having demonstrated the process, ask each participant to create their imaginary home or building. Once they start playing with TinkerCAD, move around the room to assist and answer questions. Demonstrate common questions or repeat challenging concepts to all participants (selecting, grouping, and subtracting objects). After 45 minutes, ask participants to export their files.

Step Seven: Saving the STL file

Ask participants to rename their files

  • Click on the nonsense name in the top menu bar, type in a name, and press “enter”

Log-in to the common user account and download the STL files

  • Export : Everything in Model, STL

Step Eight: Import the files into Slicer software
– 5 min

  1. Open the preferred slicer software, such as Tinkerine or Cura.
  2. Import the STL file
  3. Adjust the print settings (fill, wall thickness, speed, height, …)\
  4. Save the file (.Gcode) to the SD card

More resources: EduTech Wiki, Tinkerine U or Ultimaker Cura Help.

Step Nine: 3D Printing – 30–45 m

  1. Insert the SD card in the 3D printer
  2. Select the previously saved file (.Gcode)
  3. Start the print!

Step Ten: Feedback – 5 min

Ask the participants to provide feedback on the workshop while the models are being printed.

Extension: Try remixing designs to create models using other digital fabrication tools, such as a laser cutter.

Lesson Feedback