Let's Make a 3D Printed Zoetrope!

Zoetropes are a type of early animation device. While the typical zoetrope uses drawings on the inner walls of the cylinder, in this project, you will construct your own zoetrope using 3D printed designs. Look through the slits and see you diorama come to life.

acrylic paint

paintbrushes

permanent markers

bamboo skewers

superglue

hot glue

scissors

1/8 inch plywood

poster paper (white)

ruler

pencil

Adobe Illustrator

Ultimaker Cura

ULS software

In Adobe Illustrator, design 2 concentric circles with a small hole in the middle. This will be the shape of the base of the zoetrope [example pictured above].

Settings for your Illustrator file:

Color = RGB red

Stroke = 0.072pt

Save as .SVG

Drop your sheet of plywood in the bed of the laser cutter.

Once the laser cutter is leveled, import the Illustrator file into the ULS software.

Check all four corners of the design to make sure it fits on the wood, if not, move the design to a different location on the material.

Settings for the red color on your laser cutter:

Power = 100

Speed = 10

Press play

Divide the base into 12 slices for 12 frames of animation.

This will correspond to the 12 slits you will make in the walls of the zoetrope.

Paint your base green

In Adobe Illustrator, design a rectangle with 6 slits and triangular edges (which you will cut twice) or a rectangle with 12 slits (to be cut once) [example pictured above].

Settings for your Illustrator file:

Color = RGB red

Stroke = 0.072pt

Save as .SVG

Drop your poster paper in the bed of the laser cutter.

Once the laser cutter is leveled, import the Illustrator file into the ULS software.

Check all four corners of the design to make sure it fits on the paper, if not, move the design to a different location on the material.

Settings for the red color on your laser cutter:

Power = 100

Speed = 10

Press play

Run the laser cutter again on a fresh sheet of poster paper if you used the 6 slit design.

Paint the base coat sky blue

Add clouds with white paint

*Tip* to add another element of animation, paint the clouds in a sequential order of up and down across the sky.

Download the files below

Zoetropes require a looping animation, therefore, pay attention to the numbers on the files; that is the sequence in which they should appear.

Import the downloaded .STL files into Ultimaker Cura software

Settings for Ultimaker Cura [also pictured above]:

choose the middle tab > 1 > check enabled

material > generic > select CPE

choose the middle tab > 2 > uncheck enabled

profile > fine - 0.1mm

1 > printing temperature > 255°C

build plate temperature > 80°C

support > check generate support

support placement > everywhere

support overhang angle > 60

support density > 15

build plate adhesion > enable prime blob

adhesion type > brim

brim width > 7mm

brim only on outside > checked

Export the files from Cura and into the 3D printer

Choose a printer with white plastic and print

First remove the supports

Google mountains .stl file and import into Cura

No brims or supports should be needed in Ultimaker Cura, just make sure the mountains fit onto the build plate.

Change the printing speed to Fast 0.2mm

Plastic is easier to color with permanent marker

Glue the pilots to the airplanes if they are not already

Arrange the mountains in a spiral on the base and secure with superglue

Cut your bamboo skewers from short to long lengths so the airplanes ascend and descend

Paint the skewers the same sky blue color as the zoetrope walls

Use superglue to attach 3 bamboo skewers per plane

Use hot glue to attach the skewers to the base

Attach surrounding walls

Place your finished zoetrope on a turntable. We used a record player.

Turn off all surrounding lights and bring a flashlight above the top of the zoetrope.

Start the spinning and look through the slits in the side. If the turntable is spinning fast enough, everything should look animated.