The course An Introduction to Design through Making provides a hands-on introduction to maker education. Course modules can be found at the link below:
This strand explores how TinkerCAD can be used to replicate three-dimensional LEGO models designed in the previous module.
This is the model I am attempting to replicate.
I am planning on using TinkerCAD to re-design the model, combining multiple bricks into single shapes that snap together. To do this, I am going to deconstruct the LEGO model into the following key components:
To create the leg of a Crested Crane, I began by creating the body of a 1 x 1 brick. However, instead of making it 9.6mm tall like a standard brick, I made it 50mm tall.
Then, I added the stud to the top and the void to the base. This allowed it to snap onto bricks above and below it.
I have found that the square holes in the 1x1 bricks do not grip the studs of the brick below them as tightly as I would like. I will need to experiment with the tolerances to improve this.
To make the African Buffalo’s leg, I designed a custom 2*1 brick structure. I adjusted the height to 38.4 mm from the standard 9.6 mm. I then added a pair of top studs extending 1.7 mm higher, bringing the total height to 40.1 mm.
Finally, to ensure secure interlocking with standard pieces, I integrated a central 3.2 mm diameter clutch pin between the studs, enabling the component to snap firmly onto both upper and lower bricks.
The body of my LEGO crane is two studs wide and composed of mostly rectangles and sloped bricks. To get the design as close to the LEGO model as possible, I first had to create a sloped brick shape. I did this by combining two rectangles and a wedge from the Basic Shapes in TinkerCAD, adjusting their dimensions to match the brick body – I did not add studs – and then merging them together.
Once I had the sloped brick, I duplicated it and stacked it to get the shape of the back and the belly of the bird. For the belly, I duplicated the sloped brick and then used the mirror tool to flip it upside down. Then, with general shape of the body complete, I filled in the empty space with rectangular blocks.
In order for my legs to fit more comfortably on the body, I widened the body to be three studs thick (24mm) once the shapes were all merged.
I also added holes where I will attach the wings. I am experimenting with round holes here instead of square ones. They have a diameter of 5mm, while the studs have a diameter of 4.8mm. I have found that when printed at these dimensions, 3D printed pieces seem to snap together much more cleanly. I have also increased the depth of the holes to 4mm.
For now, I am still using square holes for the studs from the legs, but I have decreased their size by .1mm so I can compare the fit there to the fit in the round holes.
I created the wing with two wedges, placing the second on the diagonal surface of the first. Once I had adjusted the dimensions to find a general shape I liked, I merged the two pieces.
I then rotated and aligned the wing against the body of the crane and adjusted it’s overall size and rotation.
To add the studs, I duplicated the holes in the body of the crane and converted them to solids. I then resized each solid to measure 4.8mm in diameter.
To create the wing for the opposite side of the crane, I simply duplicated and mirrored the first wing.
Once printed, the wings snapped into the body without any problems.
After designing and 3D printing the four custom 2*1 interlocking brick legs with an integrated clutch pin for structural stability, the initial assembly was completed. The four legs were successfully snapped into a rectangular, open-center frame, establishing a sturdy base.
In the latest step, the build has moved upward. Two custom-designed, sloped flank bricks have been mounted onto the sides of the base. These pieces feature a smooth, tapered outer slope to mimic the natural contour of a buffalo’s body, while keeping the standard stud system on top. This setup leaves a central channel open, preparing the model for its spine, neck, and head assemblies.
