CCC - Code Cut Create
Resources for the 'Code Cut Create' Creative Computing Club.
Resources for the 'Code Cut Create' Creative Computing Club.
Each section below takes a section of the demo video discussed during the workshop, and adds some written explanation.
Even if you are not making a snowflake like we did, the video segments might give you the answer you need!
To skip directly to the step you need help with, choose an option...
If you already have a Tinkercad account, log in as normal.
If this is your first time using Tinkercad, click this link to access our 'classroom', and use the 'nickname' given to you to sign in.
When you get home, if you want to create more designs, I recommend you make an account of your own, instead of using the classroom log in.
An object is a collection of shapes.
Choose your shape from the shapes menu.
Only use flat shapes for your laser cutter project!
Doing this step will make your design on Tinkercad look more like what the laser cutter will cut.
It is not necessary, but will make it easier for you to be sure that your design looks exactly as you want it.
Create and modify your variable from the math menu, use it from the data menu.
Click the little arrow > on the right of the shape to expand the options.
Find the rotate block in the modify menu.
The angle you need to rotate by will depend on the shape you are rotating!
Choose extra shapes from the shapes menu - remember to choose only flat ones.
The shapes will be created in the order you add them to your design, and modify blocks will effect only the last shape in the list (unless they have been grouped together).
On each shape block, you can choose between a solid (coloured picture) or a hole (transparent picture).
When you click on the transparent picture, your shape will change, but it is still a seperate shapes.
Group the two shapes together by using the group block in the modify menu - this will 'cut' the hole from the shape it is being grouped with.
I recommend that each seperate part of your design be a seperate object. This makes it easier to debug when something goes wrong!
Both new object and move blocks are in the modify menu.
x, y and z will move a block along different axis - check your code after each change to make sure it stays flat on the workplane!
The rotate block uses the centre of the shape as the default pivot point.
To choose the centre of your whole design as the pivot point, find the x,y,z block in the math menu, and connect it to the rotation block.
You can make more efficient code by using the repeat block to create a pattern.
Repeating a rotate block multiple times will move each block to the same place!
Create a variable to keep track of the angle you want your blocks to rotate by, and update this angle every time the loop is repeated.
Create and modify your variable from the math menu, use it from the data menu.
Doing this step will merge all of the parts of your design into one final shape.
It is not necessary, but is good practice when designing!
You can only create groups of shapes in the same object.
Copy objects into your final object using the modify and data menus.
When you are happy with your design, it is almost ready to be physically created!
Rotate around your design to make sure everything is flat on the workplane. If not, debug your code!
Give your design a useful name so we don't mix it up with everyone else's!
Finally, click Export in the top right corner, and choose .SVG as the format.
When it has downloaded, click it to open it in your web brower and look carefully at the shape.
Make any changes you need to in your code, then let your workshop leader know that you have finished your design!