In our Operation Game is really cool. We used many really cool materials which were:

-Alligator wires

-Plastic cups

-Copper Tape

-3D printer

-Laser Cutter

-Tweezers

-3D pieces

-Hot Glue

Step 1: Finding an Image

You will want to find a large vector image, preferably ones without a ton of colors (so it's easier for the laser cutter to make it recognisable) clip art works well, but you don't have to use it. This will be the image on the actual game, the thing you will be “operating” on.

Step 2: Use Adobe Illustrator to Add Shapes

You can then put the image into Adobe Illustrator. You will want to use the ruler tool to make sure the image is the right size. You can then use the shape tool to make you holes. You can put a couple shapes down on the picture with the Shape tool. When the game is actually cut, the shapes will be where the laser cutter makes holes, so make sure you put the shapes where you want the holes to be. You can then use the Text tool to put words labeling the holes if you want to. If you choose to do this, make sure the words aren't on a dark color, or they won't show up as well. When you put down the shapes, remember to make the Stroke .0001

Step 3: Using the Laser Cutter

The laser cutter will be burning/carving your image into mat board, which is kind of like stiff cardboard. It will cut holes where the shapes were. Once you do this, you can begin the process of actually making it work like an operation game.

Step 4: Copper Tape Circuit

The Copper Tape Circuit is a circuit that will be put around the holes that will be used to remove the parts. The copper tape is what is actually used to create the circuit. This is doable because the copper in the tape allows electricity to pass through and as long as it touches either side. For the circuit to work the tape must create a closed loop.

Step 5: Plastic Cups

The plastic cups were connected to the cardboard, to the side opposite to the one that a game player will be looking at. We used hot glue to connect the cups to the back of the mat board. We did this because the tweezers must be able to touch the 3D printed pieces and to touch the sides there must be a buzzing(from copper tape)

Step 6: TinkerCAD

TinkerCAD pieces are the 3D parts that will be used in the game. They are put inside the plastic cup and game players try to remove each 3D piece.

Step 7: 3D Printer

Once your cool pieces have been designed on TinkerCAD, make sure that they are sized correctly. You may need to measure your holes to make sure. You should then put all of your shapes into one file. Save this file as a .stl, and then you can download it, and share it with your teacher. She will then print it for you.

Step 8: Makey Makey

Now, take a Makey Makey out of the box. If you don’t have them already, you should have alligator clips. Take out your board as well. Attach one alligator wire from your makey makey (the ground one) to your tweezers. Next, you should connect the copper tape’s connections to your makey makey with your alligator clips. Take the plug from your makey makey, and plug it into your computer. If you have a 12” MacBook, you’ll need a USB adapter.

Step 9: Sratch

Okay, you are at one of the very last real steps! Take your makey makey and connect it to your computer, if you haven’t already. You should open up scratch.com, a program made by MIT for people like you and me. You should create a new design. You should then choose or create sounds for your board to make when the tweezers touch the board’s edge. Then, you should finish with creating programs for each sound you want for the board.