Make Your Own Cookie Cutter

Step One: Introduction and presentation of 3D printing – 15 mins

In whole class, Introduce 3D printing with a video and presentation of your local equipment.

Recommended by Techno Culture Club: https://abc3d.technoculture.club/en/resources/presentation PBS Off the Book:

https://www.pbs.org/video/-book-will-3d-printing-change-world/

Future Engineers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTP-WBrAnPY Coursera – 3D printing at Fab Lab Champaign Urbana IL (start at 4:22):

https://www.coursera.org/learn/3d-printing-applications/lecture/PuC0A/learning-by-making-and-making-for-f un-at-the-fab-lab

Step Two: Overview of the activity – 5 mins

1. Briefly explain the flow of steps for the day’s activities.
2. What will the students do?: Create a cookie cutter.
3. Which software will be used? : Cookie Caster.

Extension: Explore A Product Design Process (from Apple Valley High School Fabrication Lab, Minnesota) https://avhsfablab196.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/1-fab-lab-essentials-3d-printer_cookie-cutter-project.pdf

In this activity your team will act as designers in a company that will be at a tradeshow. Your task is to create an attractive cookie cutter design that will be a marketing giveaway item for potential customers to remember your company by. A design process that progresses from brainstorming to presenting a final design will be used and documented. Each member of the team will have a product to present to the company executives for final approval.

Step Three: Log in each student to the software Cookie Caster – 2 min

1. Open the internet browser and go to Cookie Caster (https://www.cookiecaster.com).
2. Log each student into Cookie Caster.

Step Four: Demo Cookie Caster software– 10 min

1. In whole class, run through the entire 3D modeling process to demonstrate the  software.
2. Students observe while the teacher describes what they are doing.
3. Students observe while the teacher describes what they are doing.
4. After launching the 3D print of the demo model, participants will create their own 3D model.
5. Teacher will move around the room to assist and re-explain concepts as necessary.
6. Demonstrate common questions or repeat challenging concepts to all participants.

Step Five: Use Cookie Caster to Design and Print

TEACHER NOTE: Follow steps for using Cookie Caster to 3D print designs

• Open a web browser and go to the page: cookiecaster.com
• Add an image by clicking on the “trace” image icon at the bottom right.
• Trace the contours of the image, using the pen tool. Each blue point can be moved (but not erased). The orange dots are handles which can be used to adjust the curvature of the lines. Click and drag the blue points and orange dots as needed.
• Once the shape is complete, you can adjust the printing parameters to the desired scale and thickness.
• For a quick print, select the following parameters: Max size: 3″ Height: 4″ Thickness: Extra Thin 1mm
• Download the STL file by clicking on “Download 3D file”

With students, guide them through a first design process:

1. Add an image by clicking on the “trace” image icon at the bottom right.Optionally, come prepared with an idea for a theme which can guide participants in finding inspiration or reference images online.
2. The inspiration image should be simple enough for creating contours. Trick: to find appropriate images search for the chosen keyword and add “icon” (e.g., search for “dinosaur icon”).

   (photo FABLAB WINTERTHUR, AleaF)

3. Trace the contours of the image, using the pen tool. Each blue point can be moved (but not erased). The orange dots are handles which can be used to adjust the curvature of the lines. Click and drag the blue points and orange dots as needed.
4. Adjust the printing parameters to the desired scale and thickness. For a quick print, select the following parameters: Max size: 3″ Height: 0.4″ Thickness: Extra Thin 1mm.
5. Download the .STL file by clicking on “Download 3D file” Use a USB key to gather the STL files from participants.
6. Import the files in Tinkerine or Cura – 5 min Open the preferred slicer software. Import the STL file. Adjust the print settings (fill, wall thickness, speed, height, …). Save the file (.Gcode) to the SD card
7. 3D Printing – 30–45 mins Insert the SD card in the 3D Select the previously saved file (.Gcode). Start the print!

Feedback – 5 min

Ask participants for feedback on the workshop while the models are being printed.

Extension: Explore other 3D Design Software (from Fab Lab Zurich)

Try perfecting the shape of your cookie cutter in other 3D design software such as Inkscape and Blender. Read this blogpost from Fab Lab Zurich for inspiration!

https://zurich.fablab.ch/2013/12/nicer-cookie-cutters/