Make the Shell

The following information is a single lesson in a larger Tinkercad project. Check out this and more projects on Tinkercad.

Project Overview:

The main layer of the shell is going to be made of several objects that vary in size shape and color.

The wheel on the workplane is a guide. All objects should fit within the ring of the wheel. The wheel can also be used to duplicate shapes and then rotate them to the opposite side of the wheel. This helps to make your design more symmetrical and even. The lines inside the wheel can help to define shape location and balance. Let's get started!

Instructions

1. Drag any shape into the wheel.
2. Now move the shape to one side of the wheel. You might want to increase the size of the shape so it overlaps the center of the wheel. Be sure to keep all shapes within the outer edge of the wheel.
3. While your shape is selected, use Duplicate to create a second shape in place.
4. While your new shape is selected, hold down the Shift key and then select the wheel.
5. Select the Rotate icon for the ground plane (Z axis) and rotate the wheel and the new shape around to 180 degrees.
6. Use this technique for making matching sets of 2 or more shapes.
7. Continue to the next set of steps.

In the next phase, we will design the first layer of our shell!

The first layer of the shell is going to be made of several objects. These objects should vary in size, shape, and color. All of the objects should fit inside of the wheel that is already on the workplane. The wheel is a guide that will also help with dividing the space and with symmetry. This image shows how the design of the first layer can affect the final result.

Instructions

1. Pick another shape from the menu and place two in the wheel. Make sure they sit one of the bars inside the wheel. Scale both of the shapes up so they fill the wheel as much as possible. They should also overlaps lightly near the wheel center.
2. Create another shape to fill the space created by the objects placed in step 1 and the wheel. Copy, rotate, and/or mirror this object.
3. When adding or copying objects inside the wheel, Use the colored bars inside the wheel to help create balance.
4. The image shows an example of good balance in color, weight(mass), and radial symmetry.
5. Choose different lines of symmetry to mirror from.
6. Use the Workplane Tool to add a few details.
7. The details don't have to be symmetrical.
8. Continue to the next lesson.

In the next lesson you will learn how to make repeating patterns!

The main layer of the shell is going to be made of several objects. These objects should vary in size, shape, and color. All of the objects should fit inside of the wheel that is already on the workplane. The wheel is a guide that will also help with dividing the space and with symmetry. The image shows how the main layer can affect the final result.

Instructions

1. Position the camera so that you can select all of the objects that make up your main layer without selecting any parts of the wheel. Group them together. In the inspector, check the box next to Multicolor to keep the original colors. Choose Edit>Duplicate. Steps 2-4 need to be done without deselecting the group.
2. Move the duplicate up on the Z axis. It doesn't have to be moved much. If it begins to separate from the original group too much, lower it back down.
3. Rotate the new layer 137 degrees on the Z axis.
4. Holding SHIFT, scale the group down. The amount should be small, no more than 10mm.
5. Now choose Edit>Duplicate again. If nothing happens, delete the copy and go back to step 1. If the group wasn't deselected then all of the changes will be applied to the new copy. Keep choosing Edit>duplicate until your layer is about 2mm tall or until you reach 10-12 copies.
6. Select all of the objects and group them together.
7. Choose multicolor again.

Now that we have the shell finished, lets see what Phil thinks about his new home!

Now that Phil is added to the scene we can unlock him and move him over to the shell.

Instructions

1. Rotate the group on its side, 90 degrees on the Y axis.
2. Position the camera to see the crustacean and select it plus the hole object. In the inspector, click the padlock to unlock the objects.
3. Move them into the wide end of the shell.
4. Select the hole object and shell. Group them together.
5. Share the results with your neighbors. Is theirs different than yours?

Excellent work! Continue to the end of the lesson!