You can also use rotational symmetry to create a nice wreath.
This is a nice project for math students, but it also can be used in art and science classes. Enjoy!
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Symmetry of Fall Leaves
My free November project for the Math Forum is up. It involves using a photo of a leaf, tracing around half of it, and investigating the overall symmetry of the leaf. By combining the leaf models you get from a few different photos, you can create a nice collage of colorful leaves.
You can also use rotational symmetry to create a nice wreath.
This is a nice project for math students, but it also can be used in art and science classes. Enjoy!
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
You can also use rotational symmetry to create a nice wreath.
This is a nice project for math students, but it also can be used in art and science classes. Enjoy!
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Waybe: SketchUp Models to Paper
Those who have subscribed to my SketchUp Projects of the Month since September got my project on how to take a simple SketchUp model and unfold it, in order to create a paper model. (If you're a subscriber who signed up after September, email me and I'll send you this PDF.)
Today I looked at a plug-in that does this unfolding for you, called Waybe.
Waybe can take a simple or complex SketchUp models, and unfold it into a printer-friendly format, maintaining all of the model's colors and materials. It's not exactly a one-click operation; for anything complex you need to divide your model into groups which get unfolded one at a time. (This is actually a good thing: it requires you to think and plan which sections of the models should be separated.) Waybe also includes fold tabs; very helpful.
On Waybe's home page you'll see this cool example of a tank model in SketchUp and its 3D paper model:
Teachers: there is an educational version of Waybe available for $80. But check out this page - it looks like they are having a promotion where you can get this version for FREE during the 2009-2010 school year. What a no-brainer!
If you've used a similar plug-in for creating paper models, let me know! I'm looking at Pepakura next...
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Today I looked at a plug-in that does this unfolding for you, called Waybe.
Waybe can take a simple or complex SketchUp models, and unfold it into a printer-friendly format, maintaining all of the model's colors and materials. It's not exactly a one-click operation; for anything complex you need to divide your model into groups which get unfolded one at a time. (This is actually a good thing: it requires you to think and plan which sections of the models should be separated.) Waybe also includes fold tabs; very helpful.
On Waybe's home page you'll see this cool example of a tank model in SketchUp and its 3D paper model:
Teachers: there is an educational version of Waybe available for $80. But check out this page - it looks like they are having a promotion where you can get this version for FREE during the 2009-2010 school year. What a no-brainer!
If you've used a similar plug-in for creating paper models, let me know! I'm looking at Pepakura next...
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Monday, November 9, 2009
Upcoming November SketchUp Projects
On November 15th, subscribers to our Projects of the Month will be getting a fantastic batch of projects! If you haven't signed up, what are you waiting for? You get 36 projects (3 per month for 12 months) for $36 - that's $1 per project. A no-brainer, IMO.
Here's what's on tap for November:
American Flag
This project has it all: a bit of math, valuable lessons in spatial thinking and planning, and use of color and components. You start with a schematic drawing of the American flag, and create its geometrically accurate SketchUp model.
Cutout from a Photo
If you've ever wanted to jump into a SketchUp model, here's the next best thing. All you need is a digital photo, and you can create a "cardboard cutout" component to stick in any model. Bonus: this cutout always faces you, so it doesn't look like it's 2D.
Cube Nets
I've worked with a lot of geometry teachers lately, and this is just the sort of thing they want to see. A cube can be "unfolded" into 11 nets. This project will show how to find all 11 distinct solutions, but you don't have to share the answers with your students till they've tried it themselves.
Feedback on our past projects was incredibly positive; I'm excited to see how these projects go over! Again, here's the link to sign up.
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Here's what's on tap for November:
American Flag
This project has it all: a bit of math, valuable lessons in spatial thinking and planning, and use of color and components. You start with a schematic drawing of the American flag, and create its geometrically accurate SketchUp model.
Cutout from a Photo
If you've ever wanted to jump into a SketchUp model, here's the next best thing. All you need is a digital photo, and you can create a "cardboard cutout" component to stick in any model. Bonus: this cutout always faces you, so it doesn't look like it's 2D.
Cube Nets
I've worked with a lot of geometry teachers lately, and this is just the sort of thing they want to see. A cube can be "unfolded" into 11 nets. This project will show how to find all 11 distinct solutions, but you don't have to share the answers with your students till they've tried it themselves.
Feedback on our past projects was incredibly positive; I'm excited to see how these projects go over! Again, here's the link to sign up.
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Challenge Yourself!
Design competitions are a great way to exercise and show off your modeling skills. Every so often Google hosts a competition with cash prizes, such as the recent shelter design contest, or last year's bridge modeling contest, which I helped judge.
But if you're in it for the bragging rights and not the money, check out the SketchUp 3D Challenge Site. Every 2-3 weeks someone posts an idea for a competition, and readers can vote for the winners.
The latest competition is for the design of a sports stadium. Hurry up - entries can be submitted until Nov 11!
Teachers: keep an eye on the 3D Challenge site and if a topic comes up that would interest your students, have them enter. Extra credit for contest winners!
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net
But if you're in it for the bragging rights and not the money, check out the SketchUp 3D Challenge Site. Every 2-3 weeks someone posts an idea for a competition, and readers can vote for the winners.
The latest competition is for the design of a sports stadium. Hurry up - entries can be submitted until Nov 11!
Teachers: keep an eye on the 3D Challenge site and if a topic comes up that would interest your students, have them enter. Extra credit for contest winners!
Anyone can design anything in 3D! www.3dvinci.net