Finding or Creating an Object to 3D Print

Several 3D objects have already been designed and can be downloaded for printing. While this can be quick and helpful, it is important to encourage students to design their own objects as well. Think about moving students from using someone else's design, to remixing someone else's design, to creating their own original design.

Finding 3D Objects to Print

You can find many free designs at Ultimaker’s www.thingiverse.com. Select a design and then go to the “Files” tab to download the design file(s). Each design has an “Thing Details” tab as well. It is a good idea to read these instructions as they provide tips on how to print the design successfully. This can be a good place for students to start when they are first learning about design and 3D printing.

Ensure the Format is Right

Most designs will download in the STL or OBJ format. Both of these formats will work with the Makerbot Sketch.

Stick to the Educational Designs

It is recommended that you use the education specific section of the site: https://www.thingiverse.com/education. These designs are more useful for educational purposes, and objects that may not be appropriate for a school setting are not included. Items marked with the blue academic cap indicate an educational design.

ISU FLEx does have a base of 10 STLs including ISU (Cy and Camponile), FLEx Space, and a couple others here:

(Let Emma Freel know if you can not get to these files, should work for .iastate.edu accounts)

https://iastate.box.com/s/lfjst1gquz5i94q1mpam361v8javltdm

Encourage Design Remixing

Instead of having students simply find a design and print it, encourage them to modify or "remix" the design to suit their preferences or needs. This requires more engagement with the design process and moves students away from passively using the designs of others. Remixing can be done by importing the design into Tinkercad, which is discussed below.

Screenshot of Thingiverse education website.

Creating Your Own 3D Objects to Print

Once you and your students have learned more about 3D printing and the design process, move on to creating original designs. Autodesk Tinkercad is one of the best tools for doing this. Tinkercad is free, browser-based, and designed for educators. Note that Tinkercad has sections for circuitry and coding in addition to 3D design. You'll want to start with the 3D design section.

To get started, go to https://www.tinkercad.com/ and select "Sign Up" to create an Educator account. You can learn more about the classroom resources provided to educators by going to https://www.tinkercad.com/classrooms-resources.

Learn How to Use Tinkercad

Tinkercad has several great tutorials on YouTube to help you learn how to get started:

Tinkercad Tutorials Playlist
Tinkercad Tips Playlist

Learn How to Teach with Tinkercad

Tinkercad was designed with educators in mind, so there are several playlists and documents designed specifically for them:

Exporting Designs From Tinkercad

To 3D print a design in Tinkercad, you'll need to export the design in a format suitable for the 3D printer. When viewing your design in Tinkercad, select "Export" in the top right to export your design. Select either the STL or OBJ option for the Makerbot Sketch printers.

Screenshot of Tinkercad export options.

Additional Resources

Makerbot has created an "Educator's Guidebook" to help you learn about the printer, the software you can use to find and create designs, and lessons connected to different content areas. This can be viewed and downloaded below.

MAKERBOT-EDUCATORS-GUIDEBOOK_Third_Edition.pdf