Now some 3D printing is needed to hold the LEDs and the motion sensors. LED module for 3D print
Although I can’t get to the 3D printer class or the printers because we are COVID shut down, perhaps I could learn the software and design the parts so they can be ready to print when DMS opens back up.
Who at DMS know a lot about 3D printing? Can anyone recommend a good 3D printing software that works with DMS’s machines?
Have opened Tinkercad and a i can create a box but there doesn’t seem to be instructions or a tutorial on how to change or add shapes.
There is a basics page
But it has nothing beyond the very basics.
I know it takes time to learn the software but some basic direction is needed.
I don’t mind paying a little money to get something that is useful.
Is there some way to get some instruction?
Thanks.
I did something like this using LED strips and the motion sensors that they come with. I have two sensors One facing the top of the stairs and one facing the bottom. Motion detected by either sensor enables the lights for the entire length of stairs which is safer because it gives the eyes time to adjust to the light.
Finally found a TinkerCad tutorial TinkerCad on YouTube
that shows how to combine shapes and how to make holes
in shapes. Also how to change the size of a shape
with the little white boxes on the corners
So I have made some progress.
But am have trouble with sizing and positioning
shapes.
When a shape is chosen there is a dialogue box that
has Solid, Hole; Radius Steps, Length, Steps, Width,
Height. But the value in the dialogue box (mm?)
does not seem to jive with the dimension shown
when the shape is clicked. (But I figured
how to set the size precisely by getting
the dimension shown near the shape and editing that
dimension.)
More importantly is positioning. A reliable method
for setting the position of shapes on the work plane
is elusive. How to tell how high above the work plane
is a flat horizontal box? Where on the work plane
does a shape sitting on the work plane sit?
This is probably not the place for an extensive discussion
TinkerCad. But if someone has knows of a tutorial
or has knowledge of TinkerCad I would be willing to
make a donation to DMS or other cause for a little
adult supervision.
The solution is very simple. Blow off Tinkercad and start off with Solidworks. There are a million “how to” tutorials to get you started on sketching.
Watch these and see if you don’t think it’s an improvement:
Or go with Autodesk Fusion 360. Not sure if Solidworks has a “free for hobbyists” licensing model but Fusion 360 DEFINITELY does. Tinker CAD is for quick, simple stuff. If you are doing something requiring any level of precision go with one of the real CAD tools. I personally use Fusion 360 and am amazed at what it can do… and it is free for hobbyists.
Thanks for the replies.
Have been thru this sort of thing twice before.
On graphics tool I used Paint Shop Pro for fifteen years
before Photoshop got hold of it and made it so complex
that it takes two weeks to learn how to draw a line. Tried Krita, Gimp,
Sketch et. al. Finally found Paint.net which has pretty good documentation.
On PCBs went thru Eagle, PCB Express and half dozen others
before I found Dip Trace. Most intuitive interface, even for
multilevel boards that has been seen.
Now I am on 3D design/print. and have looked at GoogleSketch,
Fusion, SketchUp and TinkerCad. Have seen a lot of good stuff
on AutoCad Fusion. But had a buddy say that for simple objects
start with TinkerCad will work and thenwork up to Fusion for more complex or organic shapes.
And a good set of tutorials, with a speaker that doesn’t have
an uber thick accent:
So onward thru the fog. Maybe when I learn TinkerCad I’ll
teach a class at DMS as a way of paying forward to all
the DMS colleagues that helped a lost stranger.
