3D Printed Jigsaw Puzzle
Introduction: 3D Printed Jigsaw Puzzle
A jigsaw puzzle is something that everyone has played with once in their lifetime. The best thing I feel about this puzzle is that even though it looks simple but can take quite a while to crack. The complexity of the puzzle keeps on increasing as the number of pieces keeps on increasing even though it is a simple matter of putting the right pieces in the right place. For many kids, this was their first puzzle and they seem to be able to learn to solve it quite themselves. Give them a small puzzle to start with and let them solve. Eventually, they would and when they do, they realize that they can apply the same learned techniques to any kind of image. We started learning problem-solving from the moment we solved our first jigsaw puzzle!
Usually, we are provided with a reference image that helps us solve the puzzle. For a simple image, sometimes, the reference image is not even required. Removing the reference image as an element just adds more surprise as to what the end product might look like. Imagine embarking on a journey whose end is still unknown but as you go on solving, the picture starts becoming more and more clear! You see - there is a relationship between life and a jigsaw puzzle.
At the same time, a jigsaw puzzle provides the possibility of customization and personalization. Imagine gifting a kid a jigsaw puzzle on the birthday. Personalize it by adding a custom message or image and see the face light up when the last piece of the puzzle finally maps into its place. You can gift your loved ones and customize it the way you want. You can even make a puzzle for the upcoming Christmas and New Year and arrange a puzzle-solving activity with your family and loved ones. You can even make one for yourself, vary it with the complexity that you want. 729
Solve it together or solve it with a group of people for a nice time together. Either way - if we happen to saw a jigsaw puzzle then we know we ought to solve it!
In this Instructables I will be guiding you to build your own 3D Printed Jigsaw Puzzle from start to the finish. We will be using Tinkercad for the 3D designing and you if you are a beginner then this is a good start to learning some 3D techniques. You will be able to customize the shape and size and learn some neat tips and tricks as you build the puzzle. So what are you waiting for? Lets get started!
Step 1: Parts, Materials & Tools
For the 3D designing, we will be using Tinkercad as it provides a good starting point for beginners and lots of customization options even for the experts. You can access the same by clicking on this link: Tinkercad Dashboard
If you have access to a 3D printer then well and good, otherwise based on your country of residence you can find an online service that will help you turn your 3D masterpiece into reality and that will be your exercise.
You will be required to print an image which then will be applied on the final printed jigsaw pieces but you may choose to paint over the pieces as well. For this instructable, we will be using the self-adhesive paper which works best in such scenarios.
Additionally, for the scope of this instructable, the following materials will be typically used:
* Pencil and Eraser
* Ruler (to help with the cutting)
* X-ACTO Knife (Scissor will do too)
Depending on the way you want the end product to look like, following are the optional materials that may be required:
* Glue (to stick the image on top of the puzzle)
* Sand Paper (to provide finishing and adjustments to the final printed pieces)
* Brush, Paints, Sketch Pens etc. (if you want to color the pieces yourself)
Caution: Safety comes first. Handle the knife/scissor with caution. If you are using the X-ACTO knife then do put something beneath and between the table and the paper so as to not ruin the table with the knife marks.
Step 2: 3D Designing
A. After you have successfully logged into the Tinkercad dashboard, navigate to the 3D Designs tab and click "Create new design" to open up the 3D designing workspace. You will get a page similar to mine as you can see below.
On the top-left, you will find the project name which you can rename by clicking on it. You can find the basic shapes and other premade models on the right-hand side. The center of the workspace is where the object will be dragged and customized. On the left of the workplane are some of the ways you can control the angle and perspective.
B. Follow along with the video below to see how you can create a basic jigsaw shape in Tinkercad. 110