Zero: Energy Waste

We will create a mock up of what can be a smart home device that is mounted on your wall in order to track and control the amount of electrical energy your home uses.

Step 1:

Open Sketchup and draw a rectangle on the X and Y plane, the square measures 50mm in length and 30mm in height.

Step 2: Step 2

Close the square.

Step 3:

Draw a 3mm base on the bottom of the rectangle.

Step 4:

Draw a curve on the outside of the rectangle. It has to touch the top and bottom of the rectangle.

Step 5:

Draw a second curve, 3mm away from the other curve, this will create the thickest of the wall of the device.

Step 6:

Step 7:

Delete the outside edges to create the curve wall.

Step 8:

Create the top by drawing a curve a little more than 3mm in diameter.

Step 9:

Draw a hook, this will create a place for the glass to rest.

Step 10:

Erase the outside edges to form the curved top.

Step 11:

Erase the top line of the rectangle, as well as the vertical line on the left of the rectangle.

Step 12:

This will leave you with the main profile, create a lip by drawing a sort of S in the middle.

Step 13:

Curve the edges of the profile by drawing curves.

Step 14:

One you have your profile, copy and paste it two times.

Step 15:

Draw a circle o the X plane, the radius being the length of the profile.

Step 16:

Erase the bottom part of the profile.

Step 17:

Using the follow me tool, press the profile and then drag it around the main circle.

Step 18:

You will now have a 3D figure. This is forming the top of the device.

Step 19:

Draw another circle for the second profile.

Step 20:

Step 21:

Again, using the follow me tool, press on the profile and then drag it around the circle that we created on the previous slide.

Step 22:

Once you rotate it, you will have the bottom part of the device.

Step 23:

Go to the bottom view.

Step 24:

Insert text.

Step 25:

You can name it as you want.

Step 26:

Raise the letter by 1mm.

Step 27:

You can check if the parts will fit in when you move them around into an assembly.

Step 28:

You can now export the pieces into a .obj file.

Step 29:

Open apex.

Step 30:

Import the .obj piece and click file print.

Step 31:

You can see how the pieces are going to be printed from top to bottom.

Step 32:

This is now your 3D printed piece.

Step 33:

Paint it using primer.

Step 34:

Cut a piece of acrylic being 90mm in diameter, you can create wedges in order for the piece to fit perfectly.

Step 35:

Mount the piece on your wall.