Pixel Art - 3D Printed

Cairo American College
Students will create pixel art characters, use Tinkercad to 3D model the character, then use Prusa Slic3r to adjust filament change on different layer heights, and 3D print it using a Prusa 3D printer
Easy
Short-term
10–14 yrs
Verified by Prusa Team
Suitable printers: Prusa MINI / MINI+Prusa MK3 & MMU2Prusa MK3/S/S+Prusa MK3S/+ & MMU2S/3
1
5
0
906
updated May 22, 2023

Summary

PDF
Students will create pixel art characters, use Tinkercad to 3D model the character, then use Prusa Slic3r to adjust filament change on different layer heights, and 3D print it using a Prusa 3D printer

The focus of the target group

This project is designed as an introduction to 3D modeling and 3D printing for grades 6-8.

Necessary knowledge and skills

No prerequisite skills needed, as they will complete Tinkercad tutorials before they start designing. This plan will also include steps for designing the art on tinkercad and using Prusa slic3r.

Project objectives

This project will teach students the basics of Tinkercad and how to use a 3D printer. It will develop the necessary skills to start 3D modeling and 3D printing their own designs. At the end of the project, students will get a colored 3d printed character that they choose and design to brag about it with their friends and take home.

Required equipment

  • Access to computers for all students.
  • 1 or multiple 3D printers.
  • Acrylic paint and brushes, if multiple filament colors are not available.

Project time schedule

  • Students working on Tinkercad tutorials: 30-45min.
  • Students designing the pixel art on Tinkercad: 30-45min.
  • Print time: ~ 45min
  • Total time required: ~ 2-3hrs

 

Workflow

  • Teacher shares the link to Tinkercad learn with his/her students.
  • Students start going through the tutorials from “Place it” to “Align it”.
  • Teacher shares the link to Minecraft party glasses with his/her students.
  • Students work on this tutorial because it will be very similar to the pixel art.
  • The teacher 3d prints the sample in the downloads “Sonic 3D pixel art”.
  • Teacher gives instructions to students:
  1. Choose a pixel art character image, preferably one with a grid.
  2. Open a new design on Tinkercad and create a box that is 4mmx4mm and 0.6mm height. This will be the size of 1 pixel.
  3. Start from one corner of the image that you choose and count the number of pixels with the same color and copy the box to replicate the design.Use the Color picker to get the exact colors of your character and paste it in the”Hex #” in tinkercad.
  4. When done with all colors and pixels, select all pixels from each color and group them together.
  5. Set the height for each color with 0.6mm difference. Example: Black 0.6 - Blue 1.2 - White 1.8 - Skin 2.4 - Red 3.0.
  6. Export the design as STL and open in Prusa Slic3r.
  7. Set layer height to “0.2 SPEED”, then click “Slice now”.
  8. Using the slider on the right side, set color change breaks for each color. For example: move the slider from the top to 0.8 then click the “+”. Repeat each 0.6mm on 1.4, 2.0, 2.6, and so on.
  9. When done, click Export G-code and send to the printer.
  10. Make sure to plan the filament change according to the design layer colors. Ex. 1-Black, 2-Blue, 3-White, 4-Skin, 5-Red.
  11. When the print is done, pick it up and enjoy bragging to your friends about it and how you designed it!

note: If you don't have the filament color that you need, just print it in white and paint it.

Authors

Teacher: Ahmed Marzouk, Student: Ronin Morina-Marcel

Tags



Model origin

The author marked this model as their own original creation.

License