Software Used
1) GIMP2 - for picture editing
2) Inkscape to convert picture file (.jpg) in to SVG
3) Tinkercad to convert SVG into STL file
Detailed Process
1) Download a map picture from google
2) Simplify the picture using software like GIMP or just draw it. In this case i made the following changes
- Made Goa little bigger
- Simplified the boundary of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
- Connected all north eastern states in to one
- First Trace above map image, you will get boundary line picture which looks same as above
- Fill the color in each state, select all state and move it on side
- Delete the boundary image
- Now only below image remains, save it as SVG
4) Goto Tinkercad.com and create a free account. Tinkercad is browser based 3D design software which is now acquired by Autocad
- Create a new design
- Import SVG, set the scale as 30% or you can reduce the model size afterward
- Set Height = 2mm
- Click the import button, Your 3D design of a map is ready now
- Save it as .STL file and print it using a 3D Printer
5) Final product, 3D Printed Jigsaw printed using white ABS plastic (plastic of LEGO blocks). The case on right side makes your job easy to arrange a puzzle, believe me otherwise it's bit hard for anyone.
After painting indian flag color on the puzzle, this make it really easy for young kids.
my Huxley 3D Printer
6) if you want to print one of your own, follow the link below to download the design file.
9) Gingerbread girl cookie cutter, my 7 year old niece wanted me to make her this gingerbread girl cookie cutter. I had no idea how it should look, so she drew below picture for me (on left) and picture of final product on right. This one is printed using organic plastic PLA (its made from corn). Here is link if you want one http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:70638
Tinkercad is nice little tool for 3D modeling, specially designed for 3D printing. It's very easy to use compare to other free/open source tools like Blender, Sketchup, Audocad 123D etc. About a month back there was an announcement that Tinkercad will be discontinued as core team wants to pursue other goals. However interestingly on 18/05/2013 they announced that Audocad has agreed to lease a new life to this nice little tool.
I have mainly used two tools Sketchup and Tinkercad, sketchup is mainly used for Architectural design. The model coming out of sketchup is not ready for 3D printing, requires some special plug-ins to export the sketchup model to STL format. As such it may not be fair to compare Sketchup with Tinkercad, as both tool's are designed for different purpose but both are widely used by 3D printing hobbyist users.
What I like about Tinkercad (compare to Sketchup)?
Import SVG, I like it as it makes it very to easy to convert a 2D drawing to 3D model. I have used it to make Map Jigsaw puzzle and Cookie Cutter.
Some of my favourite features are Object rotation, push/pull, cutting, moving object from one place to other, joining two objects, making an object transparent etc.. are way to easy in Tinkercad compare to Sketchup
Best thing in Tinkercad is, object coming out is always a solid object unlike in Sketchup where sometimes you need to repair the STL.
I wish we have following features in Tinkercad, I am not an expert so if you think this is already possible in Tinkercad, feel free to post your comments.
Number of basic shapes available are bit limited, I wish we have Arc or round shape objects. As making round corners of the cube is not that easy
Drawing canvas size is bit limited and also zoom is limited
I miss the guide and measure tools of sketchup in Tinkercad, the scale tool in Tinkercad provides very limited functionality. I find it very difficult to measure the internal details of the object in Tinkercad. For example in this Map jigsaw, how do we measure the width and height of a particular state?
Adjust the size of the tool-bar icons and movement of tool bar side to top or bottom
Samsung galacy Ace2 case - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:56976
India map jigsaw puzzle - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:70663
UK map jigsaw puzzle - http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:70697
Note: Sketchup is not completely free but they provide free and licensed version both, the free version is quite good enough for any beginner. I find the plug-in architecture of Sketchup quite powerful, as it has allowed to build large list of free plug-in libraries by community.
** click on any image if you want to see a large high resolution picture
Machine Specification
- Build volume: 140x140x90mm - Overall size: 260x280x280mm - Printing materials: ABS, PLA, 1.75mm diameter thermoplastic. - Build surface: PCB-heated bed to reduce complexity of assembly and to ensure parts do not warp. - Computer interface: USB - Accuracy: 0.1mm - Resolution: 0.0125mm - Building speed: 1,800 mm/min - Moving speed: 12,000 mm/min - Deposition rate: 33 cm3 / hr
I built this machine in April/ May 2012, this is an opensource machine and build instruction are available here http://reprap.org/wiki/RepRapPro_Huxley. The enclosure for electronics (see top center in between those black motors) and stand for the filament spool is printed at home using the printer in picture. All white plastic parts of the printer can be printed using this or similar RepRap printers. If you are concerned about the look of the printer, it is looking so because it was designed that way so that anybody in the world could make it at home. Most of the parts you could find in your local h/w shop except electronics and hotend (part that melt the plastic filament and extrude a thin layer of plastic). If you are electronic and mechanical geek and have access to required tools you can make the electronic controller board and hotend also all by your self. Following items are made using this printer, some of them are also shared on Thingiverse (http://www.thingiverse.com/). Thingiverse is an opensource 3D model library, you can download any model from this and print it using a 3D Printer, that means it is not must to know how to design a 3D model. Though 3D designing is not so difficult and you can learn it yourself with some effort, I will share a post on this subject later. Don't forget to visit the thingiverse for some really amazing 3D models. Boat with Rubber Band Propeller
I saw a similar wooden boat in London Maritime Museum souvenir shop. The design looked simple and doable to me so I tried and here it is. Kids are very happy with it. The hole in the front can be used to plug a flag, though i yet to make one.
I have two hotwheel track toys one with single loop and one with straight track with uphill connector at the end. There was no connector to connect the two tracks but kids wanted to connect them some how. So I designed and made one using RepRap 3D Printer. The connector design was derived from other hotwheel connectors. You can download the model from here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:34908
8mm Triangle Key
This is 8mm Triangle key used for tool box and any other door which doesn't needs to be as secured as main house door. I wanted a key for my electric and water meter door, i used to borrow it from concierge. Once I thought why not make one using 3D Printer and also learn some design skills. A hold in cylinder is of triangle shape unfortunately not visible in this picture. For more pictures and to download a model visit http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:34906 Cone shape Lamp Shade
I broke the original glass shade and manufacturer has stopped producing the particular model. I thought if Jay Leno (CNBC night show presented) could print car engine parts for his vintage cars, I could at least attempt to make lamp shade for my naked lamp. Designing took < 30 minutes and printing about 2 hours. if you want to learn more about Jay Leno's 3D Printing adventure see this http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras/articles/jay-lenos-3d-printer-replaces-rusty-old-parts-1/
D20 - A dice with 20 sides
Not sure for what game this dice is used for, I thought it could be used to introduce numbers to kids, isn't it a fun way of learning numbers. Roll a dice and ask what number is this? I printed it with white plastic, all white wasn't very appealing so did the color with permanent marker. Not looking great but serves the purpose. The model was downloaded it from here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:12097 See this guy has printed it using dual head and two color green and white, looking really nice. Name Plate
I was using a permanent marker to write a name on this plastic lunch box. This exercise has to be repeated every 10-15 days as name would disappear due to daily wash. Designed and made this small name plate and stick it with feviquick - a long lasting solution.
How about a custom made
mobile/tablet case with carving of Taj or any of your favourite pictures on
backside. Do you prefer having a stature of your inspirational figure instead
of a photo frame on your table? 3D Printing makes it possible to make such
custom made object much easier compare to current manufacturing processes, infect
you can make such object at home with a desk top 3D Printer that cost just few
hundred dollars.
Architect can now make models
in mater of hours rather than weeks or months. You can make an informed
decision on home interiors based on model and need not wait for 3 months till a
carpenter make it and then regret as the actual furniture isn’t similar to what you visualized based on 2D design on paper. Also you could make a toy for your kids at
home or make and replace a broken plastic part of mixer grinder, tv, music
player or car parts.
What is 3D Printing/ Printer? Like the printer that we use today that takes the soft copy of
document or images as an input and print it on paper. A 3D Printer takes a 3D
design file of an object and builds it layer by layer and in matter of few hours you
can touch and feel the real object in your hand. As of today 3D Printers are capable
of creating any object using plastic, nylon, ceramics and metals (i.e copper,
silver, titanium). Other limitation is the size of the object it can print;
most 3D Printers could print around 10x10x10 inches object. There are
printers that can do large print but it can cost significantly higher. Well, it
is always possible to print the larger object in part and then assemble it.
3D Printing is about 25 year old technology used by few large manufacturers in aerospace,
automobile and few other industries. Also knows as Rapid Prototyping or Additive
Manufacturing process as it builds the object layer by layer and
mainly used for product prototyping. About 10 years back most 3D printer used
to cost > 100K USD, accessible to only large companies. However in last five
to seven years because of open-source project like RepRap the price
has dropped drastically. The RepRap project has made it possible for SMEs
(small and medium scale industries) and even individual to buy a personal 3D
Printer today.
How 3D Printer works?
A printer capable of making plastic part will take a plastic
filament (1.75mm or 3mm) as source material and melts it to produces very thin wire of size 0.4mm
to 0.1mm and layers it as per the shape of the object one on top of the next layer and make a real usable/prototype object. This technique is knows FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) or
FFM (Fused filament modeling). Some printers use material in powder
form and uses laser or adhesive to bind it to create thin layer, it makes
multiple such layers to create the final object. The FDM is relatively a low
cost technology compare to other techniques. The RepRap open source
printer uses the FDM technology.
How much it cost?
There are two factors that decide the cost of a 3D Printer its capability to handle the material (plastic, resin, nylon, metal or ceramics etc) and size of build platform (decides the max size of an object). For example a printer that can print plastic parts cost much cheaper compare to the one that can print metal parts. Commercial printer using plastic material and build platform between 6x6x6 to 10x10x10 inches cost around 10-30K USD while a RepRap printer cost just 500 to 3000 USD. It seems like open source software, trend for open source manufacturing is slowly picking up. See this video to know more on open source h/w and use of RepRap for bio-printing.
3D Printing Process flow
(1)Design an object using 3D design s/w or download it from the internet
(2)Slice the object using Slicer s/w, that create thin slices of 0.1 to 0.4 mm
(3)Feed the Slicer o/p file (gcode) to 3D Printer and Print an object
Here are some examples of what is possible with 3D Printer?
An Architect can print their design in matter of hours that helps them sell their ideas to customer
3d Printed plastic models are robust and durable that can help builders carry their model to property shows across cities and countries
Doctors using it to make the 3D model of the complex surgical procedure like operation of a conjoined twins. The printed model is used for practice and discussion with other doctors to figure out the best procedure for operation.
Most hearing aid mold are printed using 3D Printer now days
It is used to create custom orthopedic implants (i.e. prosthetics, knee cap etc.) and dental implants like crown, bridge and caps
3D Printer allows students to develop tangible design and engineering skills
Many working model or miniature of large machines like lathe, wobbler engine etc. It can be of great help to student in understanding the concepts and innovation. See these videos of 3D Printed working model ofPrinted Lathe, Wobbler Engine, Planetary gear set, Steam Engine,V8 Engine
3d printer is a perfect innovation tool that empowers everyone to put their design ideas to something tangible.
it is used for Jwelery design, it is possible to print silvery jewelry as of today
It is possible to print Chocolate or Cake using a 3D Printer
Designers have made 3D Printed Bikinis too, do google if you want to see a picture J
In London 3D Print show, a band had perform using 3D Printed musical instruments
Take a scan of anything and print it yourself for example your favorite sculpture in museum, a toy or a broken car part
US Army has developed mobile lab equipped with printers, so that army can print required parts on the field without waiting for it to be shipped from US. US has already deployed one such lab in Afghanistan. http://www.technewsdaily.com/6116-army-3d-printing-battlefield.html
-Manufacturer may ask you
to download the part design and print it yourself or get it printed
from local print-lab
-Nike may offer you
custom made shoes that gives you 100% comfort fit
-You may not buy
Fisherprise toys from department store (i.e. Shopperstop or LifeStyle), instead buy a design from
fisherprice.com and get it printed locally
-It might be possible to
print the complete iPhone including electronics
