It isn't uncommon to want to take a 2D drawing and turn it into something you can 3D print. I originally wrote this up as a reply to a Facebonk post, but then I realized the post violated the Facebonk group rules and would probably be subject to deletion. So, I've copy/pasted the write-up here. :-)
The original problem: Jordan Darroch in the "F**k that, I'll just print it!" group posted the following image, which he wanted to turn into some sort of printable token:
My method:
-
There is a vector image editor called Inkscape that has a function Path->Trace Bitmap. That can be used to take an image like this and turn it into a vector drawing:
-
You can then save that as an SVG, and TinkerCAD can extrude that:
-
You probably want to place it ontop of some solid -- you can either make some simple solid like a rectangular extrusion, or you can use Inkscape to create a shape that is the outline of the detail. To do this, you can merge most of the detail away by setting a high stroke thickness in Inkscape, then using the Path->Stroke to Path function.
-
Then you can switch to the node tool (shortcut key F2) and delete the interior path parts until you're just left with an outline.
-
Don't forget to delete the original shape; Stroke to Path creates a new object, but the original shape is still present. Once you've saved that outline, you can then import that into TinkerCAD as well to use as a base for the detail. You'll want to use the Align tool to put them at the same place in the X and Y. As for the Z, you can set the height of the base to be the desired height PLUS the height of the detail, then align the Z tops (that's the top circle in the lower-right of this screenshot), then go back and take away the detail height.
-
Then you can export that as an STL, and load it up in your favourite slicer. 🙂
No comments:
Post a Comment