This is your first serious design project and we are doing it in teams of two (to emphasize its seriousness).  You can divide the work between you in any manner you want (one option is Lead Designer and Lead Writer but you can be Co-Designers and Co-Writers or any other fair division of labor), but both of you should be contributing to all aspects of the project.

Objectives:

  • Really think hard about creating a new, unique, and relevant 3D-printable design.
  • Learn the basics of Tinkercad, how to use the Tinkercad tools, and how to leverage those tools to create an interesting design.
  • Start the first iteration of your first serious design project. You can expect that your design will grow and change over time; your post is where you will document those changes, by adding additional sections in future assignments.

Logistics:

  • This assignment is due before the start of class next week (Tues 9/19 or Thurs 9/21, depending on your section).
  • Students should work in groups and attempt to split the work equally. Both group members should participate in both the design and documentation of the project, but it is up to you how you want to interpret this in order to ensure that the work is distributed evenly for all team members.

Design Requirements:

This is important: Although you have a lot of creative freedom to design whatever you like for this project, your design must satisfy these requirements.

  • No mundane items like keychains, pencil cups, wine stoppers, golf tees, makeup holders, bottle openers, towel hooks, cat dishes, phone cases, shot glasses, etc. Try to think well outside the box and past the first obvious household designs you think of.
  • In particular, just adding a name or personalization to a standard household object is not sufficient for this project.
  • If you can buy a cheap version of what you’re making at the Dollar Store, at Target, on Amazon, or at some other easy to access store, then you should think of something else that better leverages your power to make custom, unique objects with 3D printing.
  • Although this is not a necessity, it would be especially great if you could think of a design that in some way supports your academic interests at JMU.
  • Preference should be for designs that are truly three-dimensional, not just extrusions of 2D images or flat objects.
  • Pay attention to the printability of your object; delicate features and excessive overhangs can cause printing difficulties.
  • Tight clearances and moving or interlocking parts will need to go through several iterations to print successfully, but models with those features are often the most interesting and might be worth the hassle.
  • Ideally, your model should require some of the more interesting design tools in Tinkercad. Think about your twenty five things and what types of things you are able to do in Tinkercad, then try to think of what you could create with those capabilities in mind.
  • No weapons or generally objectionable or insulting objects (obviously).