Introduction: MLAB | 3D PRINTED COOKIE CUTTER INSPIRED BY LEGO MOVIE 2

About: We explore how to bring ideas (and those who create them) to life by getting our hands dirty in/out of our Lab (mLab). #BuildMakeLearn

As huge fans of the LEGO Movie, we wanted to create a project that celebrated one of our new favorite LEGO Movie characters, General Mayhem, using CAD (Computer Aided Design) and our 3D Printer to create some sweet mayhem of our very own.

We decided to make General Mayhem Shortbread Cookies by creating a 3D Printed Cookie Cutter. Follow these simple steps to create your own 3D Printed General Mayhem Cookie Cutter inspired by the LEGO Movie 2. Check out the mLab Episode VII: 'General Mayhem Shortbread Cookies'. #EverythingIsAwesome

Step 1: Introduction to CAD

In this Step-by-Step, we will show you how to make a 3D model of a Cookie Cutter inspired by the character General Mayhem from the LEGO Movie 2 film. In order to create our 3D model, we will use Autodesk Sketchbook and Autodesk Fusion 360. Autodesk Sketchbook, is a software application that allows for you to transform your drawings into a digital format on a wide variety of devices (i.e. your computer, iOS and Android Device, and even your Fire Tablet). The second software application we are using, Autodesk Fusion 360, is a 3D design or CAD software that allows for you to transform your ideas into 3D models simply using your computer. As an added bonus, both software applications are free to use!

Now, if the term "CAD" sounds unfamiliar to you, don’t fear. CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design. It is a type of software that allows for us to build 3D objects using our computer. Once we are finished with our Fusion 360 CAD model, we can export the model to a 3D Printer, a machine that uses materials such as plastic in order to print physical objects. If you don't have access to a 3D Printer, you can also order a 3D print from VooDoo Manufacturing or explore your local resources to 3D Print your CAD Model (For Example; your local school or library).

Regardless of what you decide to do with your CAD Model, the most important step is to get started. So...Let's Get Started!

Step 2: Sketch General Mayhem's Wings

In order to begin, we need to pick a component of General Mayhem that we would like to 'cookie-fy' using our 3D Printed Cookie Cutter. Hence, we decided to take a quick look at the LEGO Movie 2 Trailer. Enjoy.

Based on the LEGO Movie 2 Trailer, we decided to design a Cookie Cutter inspired by General Mayhem's Wings.

Given we aren't artists, we need to make a Sketch of General Mayhem's Wings to serve as a Canvas for our CAD Model. Just like an Artist would use a Canvas to apply their masterpiece, we will do the same with our Sketch.

Now, to create our Sketch of General Mayhem's Wings, we used the Autodesk Sketchbook App on our iPad in order to trace over an image of General Mayhem to obtain an outline of her wings (shown in the video below). You can also use Autodesk Sketchbook on your Phone, Fire Tablet, Computer (highly recommend either a Touchscreen Computer or use a Wacom Tablet or Digital Tablet accessory) to create a digital Sketch of General Mayhem's Wings.

If you prefer more traditional methods, you can use traditional pen and paper in order to outline General Mayhem's Wings, snap a picture, and use the image as a Canvas as well for your CAD Model.


Although we like a little mayhem, we also understand if you would prefer to just jump straight into creating a CAD Model of General Mayhem's Wings in Fusion 360.

So...we've included our Outline of General Mayhem's Wings as a Download Below [you're welcome. ;)];

General Mayhem's Wings Outline Autodesk Sketchbook

Step 3: Import Sketch Into CAD Software

After developing our Sketch of General Mayhem's Wings, we can now transform our Sketch into a CAD Model using Autodesk Fusion 360.

In Fusion 360, we are going to import our Sketch from Autodesk Sketchbook using the 'Insert Canvas' Tool in the Upper Toolbar on the Fusion 360 Workplane as shown below;

Once we have our Sketch imported into Fusion 360, we can begin creating a 2D Outline of General Mayhem's Wings using Fusion 360's 'Sketch Tool'.

Using the Sketch Tool, we will first use the 'Line Tool' to trace the straight components of General Mayhem's Wings.

Next, we will use the 'Arc Tool' in order to trace the rounded edges and half arcs of General Mayhem's Wings in order to complete the basic outline.

Finally, we need to use the 'Circle Tool' in order to complete tracing the middle of General Mayhem's Wings to complete our 2D Outline.

Continue using the various Sketch Tools above until you complete your 2D Outline of General Mayhem's Wings.

Step 4: Transform Your Model From 2D to 3D

At this point, we have a 2D Outline of General Mayhem's Wings.

Pro Tip: If you want to make a Cookie Cutter that will leave an imprint on General Mayhem's Wings as well as cut them out, create another Sketch and only trace the edges of General Mayhem's Wings we want to remove as the Shortbread Cookie Shape.

Now, we need to transform General Mayhem's Wings from a 2D Outline into a 3D Model.

First, we need to 'Stop Sketch' in the Right-Hand Toolbar in order to complete our Sketch.

Next, we need to 'extrude' or pull the Sketch from a simple 2D Model to a 3D Model using the 'Extrude' Tool in the Upper Toolbar;

Given we want our General Mayhem Cookie Cutter to cut the edge of General Mayhem's Wings, we want to extrude her wings at a height greater than the inner parts of her wing. In order to do so, we need to use the 'Extrude' Tool and then the 'Shell' Tool in the Upper Toolbar to make the outer part of the Cookie Cutter;

For the inner parts of General Mayhem's Wings, we want them to leave a soft imprint on our Shortbread Cookie Dough like a typical Cookie Stamp. Therefore, we want to only partially extrude the inner parts of General Mayhem's Wings;

Feel free to play around with General Mayhem's Wings until you get a 3D Model that looks too perfect not to bring to life in Cookie Cutter form.

Now, we have a CAD Model of our General Mayhem Cookie Cutter for us to send to a 3D Printer.

Step 5: Send Your CAD Model to 3D Printer

If you have access to a 3D Printer;

Congratulations! You can make your General Mayhem Cookie Cutter CAD Model into reality.

If not, you can have your CAD Model printed at your local school, library, or maker-space with public access to a 3D Printer or you can order online and have it shipped to your home through VooDoo Manufacturing.

How do you export your CAD Model for 3D Printing? It's simple.

In Fusion 360, you can go to the upper Right Hand Corner of the Upper Toolbar and Export your CAD Model as a .STL File or 'Send to a 3D Printer' which you can upload to the 3D Printing Software which corresponds to your specific 3D Printer. For example, we are using a Dremel 3D20 3D Printer, so we will be using Dremel DigiLab.

via GIPHY

If .STL sounds a like an alien format, don't panic just yet. STL files are a very popular file format for 3D or CAD Models and its similar to exporting a Document as a Microsoft Word (.doc) or PDF format (.pdf).Once you upload the .STL File to your 3D Printing Software, the software will transform your CAD model into a language that machines, in particular 3D Printers, can understand.

So, in order to recap:

.STL = Language for 3D Modeling and Printing Software

.gCode = Language for 3D Printers to understand CAD Models

In our case, we used Dremel DigiLab, which allows for you to upload .STL files and convert the file into the .gCode that corresponds to our Dremel 3D20 3D Printer.

Step 6: Prepare Your Shortbread Cookie Dough

Finally, we have our 3D Printed General Mayhem cookie cutter, we can get started making our shortbread cookie dough.

For our shortbread cookies, we used a shortbread cookie recipe by Rosanna Pansino and tweaked to suit our needs:

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • ¼ cup cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • 2 large mixing bowls
  • whisk
  • spatula
  • rolling pin
  • cookie baking sheet
  • hand mixer (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, mix together egg yolks, cream and vanilla extract.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt until well combined.
  3. Use a whisk or hand mixer to combine butter with dry ingredients until crumbly.
  4. Add wet ingredients until dough forms.
  5. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
  6. Roll the dough to ¼-inch thickness
  7. Sprinkle a little flour on your General Mayhem cookie cutter and firmly press cookie cutter into dough.
  8. Gently lift the cookie cutter to reveal General Mayhem cookie dough.
  9. Place General Mayhem’s shortbread cookie dough wings on a baking sheet.
  10. Place cookies on a baking sheet and freeze for 10 minutes (to hold their shape while baking)
  11. Bake at 350℉ for 8–10 minutes or until golden brown.

After a little patience, we have a little something to celebrate;

via GIPHY

Step 7: Create Your General Mayhem Shortbread Army

It's been a long journey, but you've created your own General Mayhem Shortbread Cookie Army.

When it comes to your General Mayhem Shortbread Cookie, it's very important to customize it in order to make it your very own.

As you have seen so far, Autodesk Fusion 360 allows you to make quite advanced CAD Models using a variety of Sketching Tools and Techniques. However, you can take this a step further by customizing your Cookie.

For example, if you want to take your General Mayhem Cookies to the next level, try different cookie dough recipes (Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter) and even decorating your General Mayhem Cookie using Royal Icing, Sprinkles, Edible Glitter, and more. Whatever you decide to do, simply #BuildMakeLearn.

Plus, don't forget to share snapshots of your creations with us on Social Media using the Hashtags - #MakeAnything #LEGOMovie2 #mLabBuilds.

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