Makerbot's Thingiverse is a website used to discover, make, and share 3D printable objects. Use the links below to work with Thingiverse.
Create an Account - You will need to fill in your parent's email address and name. They will receive an email in which they will have to sign a form in several places allowing you to use Thingiverse.
Get Started Using the Steps Below
1. Create a Profile
2. Collect Things
3. Find Makers
4. Continue to Thingiverse
You can now find 3D figures to print or customize before printing.
How to download and print a 3D figure from Thingiverse
Tinkercad is an introduction CAD (computer-aided design) program formulated for students. You can make basic 3D objects or very complex.
Topics for Basic Mastery of Tinkercad
Creating an account in Tinkercad with a Class Code
Use the align tool & Make bigger or smaller while grouped & Group/Ungroup
Spin figure & Flip Tool & Ensuring the side with the most surface area is on the mat
Change dimensions while keeping proportions by holding SHIFT & Make a figure transparent
Cary Academy Specifics
Printing all of a 3D object or part of it & Exporting to Cura (for club and summer programs only)
Examples
Measurements (also included in the videos)
Design Challenges
Cura and 3D Printing with the Mendel 3D Printers
Cura is the program that takes a 3D model created in Tinkercad or any other CAD program and prepares it for printing. All files must be downloaded as .STL files from your CAD program (Tinkercad is what we use) and imported into Cura. In Cura you can see how long an object will take to print, make any changes, and save it to an SD card. Then you can put the SD card in a printer to print your file!
Topics for Basic Mastery of 3D Printing
Introduction to the Mendel 3D Printer
Saving a file to SD Card and Printing
Taking prints off the print bed
Using Cura to tweak/resize file
3D Pen
Phone Case (fast forward past the 3D pen review)
Gary the Snail (Spongebob)
Patrick the Star (Spongebob)
Example: Making the The Great Deku Tree | The Legend of Zelda (advanced users)
Infinity Gauntlet (advanced)
Scratch is a drag and drop programming website. It is used to teach an introduction to coding, but can easily become complex.
Learning Different Aspects of Coding with Scratch
Use this link to practice coding with examples. Each example teaches you something new.
Fusion 360 is a CAD (computer-aided design) software for professionals. It has a high learning curve and can do many things.
Making a Table Using the Extrude Tool and the Rectangle Tool
Making a Ring Setting Using the Torus Tool, the Cylinder Tool, the Chamfer Tool, Combine and Move
Below you will find links to sites that teach a variety programming languages. Each site is free to use.
Code Monkey - programming for kids (free for about 30 levels)
Code Academy (many languages)
Khan Academy (many languages)
Make sure you have the correct 3D printer chosen. Go to the Machine menu. If Mendel is listed with a dot beside it, you are set. If not, follow the screen shots below to set up the Mendel 3D printer.
Next, adjust up the settings by going to the Machine menu and choosing Machine settings.
Next, change the settings under Basic beneath the menus.
Then, click on Advanced under the menus and make sure your settings look like these.
Now you should be ready to save your prints in Cura 15.04.6!