What is

Laser Cutting?

Imagine a super powerful light, like a laser pointer, but much stronger!

It can cut, draw, or make designs on different materials like wood, metal, plastic, and fabric.

The laser follows a picture or design that someone made on a computer.

Laser Cut

Laser Etched

Laser Cutting

Student Work

The "Klutz" Robot

Lottery Pig

Rivalship

NuVu Tool(box)

What is

3D Printing?

Imagine if you could draw something on the computer and then a machine turns your drawing into a real object you can hold!

That’s what 3D printing does by adding material, like plastic or metal, layer by layer, kind of like building with tiny blocks.

Slip-Cast Ceramic

Zoom Widgets

Open-Source VR Headset

Polar Bear Cake

3D Printing

Student Work

To 2D or 3D Model

In order to laser cut or 3D print, you first need to design digitally

Today we will use TinkerCAD

Agenda

Learn about TinkerCAD

Make an account and use the slides to start playing around with it

Start 3D Modeling

Sketch what you designed by deconstructing the shapes

Create a new file on TinkerCad to represent your deconstructed model (2D)

Compare your 3D model with your 2D file

Laser Cutting

3D Printing

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What is Tinkercad?

Tinkercad is a fun and easy-to-use computer program that helps you make 3D designs.

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Go to tinkercad.com

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Make your Account

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Click on "Create your first 3D design"

choose a cube to start

change it's size!

add more shapes if you want!

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Bring your model to paper by sketching what you designed on TinkerCAD (keep it 3D)

Now try to deconstruct each shape into a flat surface.

Use the next slides to help you do that!

SKETCH YOUR DESIGN

Using paper and a pencil, sketch the faces of the shapes you modeled on TinkerCAD.

Think about how they fold onto each other to become the 3D shape

How do you think they will connect?

What shape do you think this is to the right?

SKETCH YOUR DESIGN

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CREATING 2D DESIGNS IN TINKERCAD

Create a new file on TinkerCad to represent your deconstructed model (2D File)

Click on Top View and add all the faces of each shape of your model

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Discuss



What is the difference between your

3D file and your 2D file?

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Laser Cut

2D Export

Click TOP to look straight down at the workplane because we will be designing for 2D cutting

Click Flat View

to look straight down at the workplane also

Click Export

when you are done designing and select SVG as your file type to laser cut

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Remember

to set your lines to the material settings for what you are cutting

Remember

to turn on the air filter before you start your cut

ENJOY LASER CUTTING!

3D Print

3D Export

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Click Export

when you are done designing and select STL as your file type

Go back to your 3D Model

3D Printing

Slicer Workflow

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2 MINUTE TINKERCAD BEGINNER TUTORIAL