Introduction: Pencil Holder
We’ll be learning how to use TinkerCAD in this project to make a pencil holder that looks like a simple cartoonish mole. Once modeling is finished the model will be 3D printed.
Step 1: Fire Up TinkerCAD!
- Let's start by going to www.TinkerCAD.com and signing up with a free account. If you don't have an account then it's time you made one ;)
- Now go to your profile and click on "Create New Project"
- Once you're there go to "Shape Generators" and look for "Bazier Bean"
- Click and drag the model into your modeling space.
Step 2: Modeling
- Match the settings as the ones shown in the picture.
- Drag a cube and make it cover the bottom area of your model. This will make the bottom surface flat.
- Make the cube a "Hole"
- Group the two objects together.
- Drag a cylinder with the shown dimensions (This will make the holes for the pencils). You can measure the diameter of your pencils and change the size however you like.
- An important note here is to make the hole deep enough for the pencils to be held. About 3 cm deep works well.
- Make the cylinder centered and horizontal as shown.
- Now we Duplicate the model (Edit -> Duplicate) or press )Ctrl + D). Now we have another cylinder intersecting with our first cylinder.
- Rotate it by about 22 degrees and move it up as shown.
- Once you're happy just click Ctrl + D twice. Works like magic! now we have 4 cylinders perfectly aligned. If not drag and move until you are happy.
- Select all 4 cylinders and duplicate them. Then rotate them 180 degrees on the Z axis.
- Now it's time to copy all of those 8 cylinders and rotate them about 20 degrees so that they are positioned on the back side.
- Duplicate it twice so that we have 4 sets. Some cylinders might not be perfectly in place, if so you can drag and align until you are satisfied.
- Delete the horizontal cylinders since these are too steep for our pencils to be held.
- Now add 2 spheres (diameter of 10 & 5). Copy the big one and position them on the front where the eyes are. The small one should be where his nose is.
- You can copy one more set of the cylinders or two if you want to, too.
- Now make all sets as "Holes" except the main body, eyes and nose then group them together.
- Go to "Download For 3D Printing" and download the model.
Attachments
Step 3: Printing
- Depending on the printer you have you can use various settings.
- We used Replicator Z18 and Filament from Matterhacks
- Printing temp was set to 220C
- Quality of Low is good enough (layer height of 0.3mm)
- Enjoy your creation :)
Tips:
- You may increase the number of holes you have.
- You can make the model bigger and make differently sized holes to fit different pens/pencils.
If you have any questions you can ask in the comments section below and also share your thoughts regarding this creation. Thanks!