For example, a propeller can be designed in OpenSCAD in a way that lets the end user change the number and size of the blades. An advantage of building geometric models in OpenSCAD is that they can be “parameterized” – expressed in a way that lets one design make several related shapes by changing the values of a few variables. It has its own programming language that might be appropriate for high-schoolers to play with. While I will largely use OpenSCAD as an extrusion tool for Inkscape, it is, in fact, a full 3D modeling program that builds models from text commands. Our goal is to build from this strength on the path to (later) creating designs with 3D drawing tools. The reason is that, while building 3D objects on the computer screen is likely a new task to students, they probably use two-dimensional art programs all the time. You may be wondering why I would mention a (primarily) two-dimensional drawing tool in the context of 3D printing. This sounds laborious, but it is easy to get the hang of it, and the whole process goes very quickly. STL (Stereolithography) files are the format your printer expects to see when it starts the process of getting your model ready to print. To get this shape to your printer, the next step is to open it in OpenSCAD, compile the image, and save it as an STL file. When you choose the extrusion option, you just indicate how many millimeters you want the extrusion to be, and a 3D file for OpenSCAD is generated automatically. The way this works is that you select the part of the drawing you want to extrude into a three-dimensional shape. But the real power of Inkscape as a 3D drawing tool comes when you install the support plug-in for 3D extrusion to an OpenSCAD file (described later) that can be rendered and exported as an STL file for the printer to use. You can also export images in traditional graphics formats like PNG (portable network graphic) that looks great when used on websites, etc. Drawings created in Inkscape can be saved in the SVG (scalable vector graphic) format so they look great at any magnification. It is an amazingly powerful tool that even automates the process of drawing complex objects like gears. Inkscape is primarily a drawing program for two-dimensional designs. Here are a few free titles that I think should be on your list: As 3D printers come into homes and schools, you will be looking for tools that let you make your own designs.
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