Polygon Columns with Holes and a Twist (Customizable)

thingiverse

This is a Customizer environment where you can design an array of up to 10 columns that fit your vision perfectly. You specify the location and parameters for each column, which is an extrusion of a basic regular polygon (triangle, square, pentagon, etc.). Create your object by specifying the X, Y location for the center of each column, the Z height of the column above the base, the size of the column (i.e. the diameter of the smallest circle that can enclose the column), and the twist (if any) for the column. Additionally, each column can have a hole with specified dimensions. You can specify the dimensions of the rectangular base supporting the columns or use zero base thickness for no base. Columns can overlap, holes can be larger than a column, holes can be very shallow or go through the entire column and base. Columns can be twisted or plain. If you want fewer than 10 columns or holes, specify zero diameter for each unwanted column/hole. What might this make? There are lots of possibilities. Pen holders? Nail polish holders? Stands for objects supported by a field of columns? Supports for motors, circuit boards, sensors, gears, art objects? A wide range of useful (and useless) objects can be created. I began this because I wanted a variety of bases for circuit boards and some storage racks for little jars of paint. My goal was to create a Customizer Thing with a reasonable range of flexibility. Obviously, that flexibility means you have to design and fill in the details -- in this case the parameters for each column in your creation. See the Customizer input panel for notes on the parameters. (Scroll down in Customizer to see all of them; there are a lot of parameters.) -- Enjoy. If your design needs exactly 4 columns located at the corners of a rectangle, you might try the more restricted version I developed before adding the options (and complexity) of this Thing. See: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1375390 Files The Polygon_Columns_With_Holes_and_a_Twist.scad file contains the object descriptions and initial parameter values. Customizer is a convenient way to change the parameter values to meet your needs. Or, you can use OpenSCAD for more extensive modifications. The Desk_Set_Example.stl file is the object created by default values when you open the .scad file in Customizer. It shows some of the options for columns. It uses 8 of the possible 10 columns and a variety of sizes, shapes, and twists. You are encouraged to change the parameters to create a design that meets your needs. Project: Polygon Columns with Posts and a Twist Objectives: --Introduce 3-D design by providing an environment to create complex and interesting 3-D objects. --Apply basic geometric concepts by utilizing a Cartesian coordinate system for describing and locating the components of the objects. --Understanding of OpenSCAD programming concepts used. Steps Steps are the same as in any design/build project: • Determine the goals for the object being designed • Sketch out the object • Assign dimensions to the columns • Plot the locations of the columns Enter the dimensions and locations in OpenSCAD or Customizer • See what results in the Customizer 3-D view window.. • Repeat the previous steps until you are ready to accept the resulting object. Results Depending on the learning objectives, the resulting objects can be evaluated by whether they demonstrate: • An understanding of geometric concepts (e.g. x, y, z coordinates; regular polygons, extruding 2-Figures into 3-D objects, twisting 3-D objects), • Accomplishing design goals, • Aesthetics of the object (e.g. balance, symmetry, etc.), • Understanding of the OpenSCAD programming concepts used. Test Printing Printing always seems to produce surprises. Two suggestions that have helped me: • If the column locations/sizes are critical, run a test print with a thin base and interrupt the printing as soon as the columns appear. • For student objects, scale them to a relatively small size when preparing them for printing. Make any adjustments at a small scale before printing them full scale.