Introduction: 3D Printed Phone Case Design

This is an instructable on how to create a design for a 3D printed phone case using the Autodesk 3D design interface.

--------------------------Earlier Yous Begin---------------------------

Materials Needed:

  • digital or dial calipers (or other adequate accurate measuring device)
  • figurer with Autodesk 123D Design installed
    • Don't accept it installed? Download Information technology Here
  • Phone to pattern case for
  • Notepad, paper, or some other medium to write down dimensions for telephone
  • Admission to a 3D printer
  • Spray Pigment (if coloring of finished product is desired)
  • Knife or Putty Pocketknife (for post-processing of 3D impress)
  • Pliers (for mail service-processing of 3D print)
  • File (for post-processing of 3D print)
  • Noesis of how to use the 123D Design Software
    • Haven't used it before? View Demo's on the Software Hitheror View an Overview Here

Notes:

  • The photos of the finished product are from an initial design that was slightly different than the pattern shown in the modeling portion of the instructable
  • You lot tin can use the aforementioned basic procedure of this design to create your ain pattern for a phone case.
    • (this design was developed for a rhetorical blueprint project for an introductory English grade at Purdue University)
  • BEFORE YOU PRINT YOUR DESIGN: Make sure you highlight your entire design and select "merge" from the meridian toolbar
    • I did not specify this in the video tutorial, but it is necessary to ensure that your entire model is one slice. If you don't do this, it may print wrong.

Step i: Get Measurements

ote: While taking these photos, I accidentally pressed the zero button on my calipers, so the measurements in the photos may not exist authentic. The photos are mainly as a reference as to how to get the necessary dimensions.

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Measurements Needed:

Stride two: Modeling

View the Tutorial Video:

Don't have that much time? Attempt the fourth dimension-lapse version:

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Note:Times indicated are when the segment starts in the full length tutorial video.

Besides note that the photos are not very helpful since I couldn't embed them, so but reference the video times.

  1. Making the basic shape of the case. (0:10)
    1. Draw a rectangle that has the same dimensions as the overall acme and width of your telephone.
    2. After drawing your base, filet the corners to match the radius of the corners on your phone.
  2. Making the edges and openings (2:20)
    1. Use the showtime feature to offset the drawing by 3mm
    2. Raise the edges of your basic rectangle
    3. Next make full in what will be the dorsum of the instance
    4. Offset the outer edge of the front by - 6mm and extrude 3mm to make lip to concord phone in case
    5. Later forming the bones edge, using the measurements that yous took previously, remove the space where you would find the camera and speaker.(5:22)
    6. After that, move to the sides of the case. Use the aforementioned process you used when making the openings on the side. (Note: Precision is key in this area).(ix:28)
    7. When finished making the spaces, filet all squared edges on the case. This will get in cleaner.
  3. Rendering the back design(15:x)
    1. Begin by drawing a line resembling a circuit vertically from the meridian of the case to the bottom.
    2. Select the first line and paste information technology 9 times to create 4 separate circuit links.
    3. When finished create a square in the upper right corner of the case to resemble a chip.
    4. Using the aforementioned process as earlier, create circuit links going into the chip.
    5. When finished with this process, raise the pattern and chip to sit above the base.
    6. When all this is finished, apply the text tab to blazon CTRL into the blueprint.(17:40)
      • (note, there is a typo in the video as it says CTL instead of CTRL)
    7. When finished, heighten the text besides.
    8. Next, to create the shackle and chain, draw a rectangle and 2 flat ovals.(twenty:45)
    9. Make the rectangle sit lower in the case, making an indent or slot.
    10. Then, to create the raised link, describe a rectangle that connects the ii oval links.
    11. Raise the rectangle and filet the edges, making it appear circular like a link.
    12. Filet the edges of the two ovals as well.
    13. In club to create the shackle loop, beginning a new blueprint page(24:50)
    14. Draw a circle
    15. Draw a rectangle and fuse the circumvolve to the rectangle.
    16. Raise the whole piece; this will sit in the rectangular indent you made earlier.

Step 3: Troubleshooting

Trouble: Can't extrude a sketch.

Nigh likely Solutions:

  • Did you lot draw all of your lines in the same sketch? If not, redraw them all in the same sketch.
  • Do your lines all connect? You only can extrude closed shapes.

Problem: Can't fillet an edge. Says "invalid operation" or similar error message

Well-nigh probable Solution:

  • You probably picked a radius that is impossible equally some point on your selected border. Endeavour a smaller radius if possible.
  • If irresolute the radius didn't work, try un-checking the "Tangent Chain" bank check-box. This will make only the specific edge you click be filleted

Problem: My print came out warped

Most likely Solution:

  • If your print is non totally messed upward, try heating the plastic carefully with a lighter and bending it to the proper shape.
  • This probably happened because:
    • your printer is not calibrated
    • your printing with ABS and you lot don't have a properly heated table
    • your printing tabular array was non make clean and so the print did not stick properly
  • If your print turned out really bad, just reprint it. 3D printing does not always become smoothly

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