Individual assignment: Design, document, and 3D print an object#

Step 1: Create a box in Rhino#

From the Rhino menu, select the box object and define the center as 0,0,0 and select a side of 10 and a height of 10.

From the Rhino menu select the box object and define the center as 0,0,0 and select a side of 10 and a height of 10

Here is an image of the box once we created it.

Here is an image of the box once we created it

Step 2: Apply multi-pipe#

Now from the Rhino command menu, we select multi-pipe.

Now from the Rhino command menu, we select multi-pipe

Rhino will then ask you to select the sides of the object that you need to multi-pipe, so switch to wireframe view and select all the edges of the cube.

Rhino will then ask you to select the sides of the object that you need to multi-pipe so switch to wireframe view and select all the edges of the cube

We set the pipe radius to one.

We set the pipe radius to one

Cap ends is off.

Cap ends is off

Set the strut divisions to one.

Set the strut divisions to one

And when you press enter you will see a second shape around the cube, wrapping the edges.

When you press enter you will see a second shape around the cube, wrapping the edges

Step 3: Clean up the model#

Then select the cube inside and press delete.

Then select the cube inside and press delete

Now we have just a multi-piped cube that we want.

Now we have just a multi-piped cube that we want

Step 4: Create interlocking copies#

Click our multi-pipe cube and use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy-paste it four times.

Click our multi-pipe cube and use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy-paste it four times

To make them interlocking, we move the objects so that they don’t touch each other.

To make them interlocking we move the objects so that they don’t touch each other

I had to raise them like this so that they won’t touch, but Carl mentioned that the raised cubes will be weaker, so I want to make the diagonal so they are all the same.

I had to raise them like this so that they wont touch but Carl mentioned that the raised cubes will be weaker so I want to make the diagonal so they are all the same

Step 5: Rotate the cubes#

Since I have the gumball enabled, I click the rotating line and type in how much I want to rotate along the Y-axis, which is 45 degrees.

Since I have the gumball enabled, I click the rotating line and type in how much I want to rotate along the Y-axis, which is 45 degrees

Step 6: Fix units and alignment#

At this point, I had to go and update the units on the document from inches to cm.

At this point, I had to go to and update the units on the document from inches to cm

Then I noticed that some cubes were not touching the base plane, so I select each cube and use the BoundingBox command to see how much I need to shift it.

Then I noticed that some cubes were not touching the base plane so I select each cube and use the BoundingBox command to see how much I need to shift it

As you can see here in the min, the Z axis is roughly -1.228 below the Z point 0.

As you can see here in the min the Z axis is roughly -1.228 below the Z point 0

Then I select the cube and use the Move command.

Then I select the cube and use the Move command

I specify the start point as 0,0,0 (the origin).

I specify the start point as 0,0,0 the origin

And I shift it 1.228 along the Z axis by typing 0,0,1.228.

I shift it 1.228 along the Z axis by typing 0,0,1.228

Now they are all even and the small square shows that they are all touching the base z-plane.

Now they are all even and the small square shows that they are all touching the base z-plane

Step 7: Export and prepare for printing#

Export it as an STL file.

Export it as an STL file

Import it into Bambu Studio and set the tolerance to 0.5 mm.

Import it into Bambu Studio and set the tolerance to 0.5 mm

Here’s the imported STL model on the base plate. On the left menu, select Enable Supports and click Slice All.

The imported STL model on the base plate and on the left menu select Enable Supports and click Slice All

The sliced file with supports looks alright, so now let’s export it to 3MF format so we can copy-paste it into Bambu and print it.

The sliced file with supports looks alright so now lets export it to 3MF format so we can copy paste it into Bambu and print it

Step 8: Printing results#

Here is a picture of the interlocking cubes mid printing, things look okay.

Here is a picture of the interlocking cubes mid printing, things look okay

Here is a picture after printing was done, now I have to remove the supports by hand.

Here is a picture after printing was done, now I have to remove the supports by hand

They turned out quite nice eventually.

They turned out quite nice eventually