Introduction: 3D Printed Heart Cuff Links (DIY With TinkerCad)

About: Hi, my name is Josh. I like RC cars.

After reading several news articles about the recent boom in 3D printing technology, I decided to make my own models. After practicing and following several tutorials I have decided to teach the rest of instructables how to make their own 3D models. For this tutorial, I will be showing you how to create a heart cuff link for mens' dress-ware.

What did you make?
In my project I made a pair of heart shaped cuff links. I was inspired to make these after learning about 3D modeling, and I wanted to learn how to do something that very few people my age know what to do.

How did you make it?
I made these cuff links with a program called TinkerCad. I was taught how to use TinkerCad by following tutorials and playing with the program myself. The program is easy to master, and I had a complete knowledge of the program within 20 minutes.

Where did you make it?
I designed the cuff links on my computer at my house, however I do not currently have a 3D printer to test printing these cuff links out on.

What did you learn?
I learned how to use a 3D modeling program to manipulate common shapes into something else.


For the UP! Contest: I am 14 years old and I am not able to produce the $1200 for even a basic printer. By voting for me in the contest you will be helping by increasing my chance of winning. If I were to win a 3D printer, I would start my own business that designed and built decor for the modern world and I would also make my brother a pair of Army cuff links (He was just accepted to West Point Military Academy!). Thanks!

Step 1: The Program

The program that I used for this project is a web app called TinkerCad. In the middle there is the "Workplane", the virtual surface the blocks are placed on and on the far right are the tools and shapes in a scrollable tab. 

Step 2: The Base

On the shape tab on the far right, scroll down until you see the heart shape. Then click and drag it into your work-space. Then click the top circle and resize the hight of the heart to 3mm.

Step 3: The Stem

Then scroll back to the top of the shapes menu and drag the cylinder onto the work-space. Click the bottom right circle and resize both sides to 3mm. Then click the top circle and raise the height to 12mm. Finally, center the stem of the cuff link on the base.

Step 4: The Head

Select the heart base, and press Control+D to duplicate the heart. Then click the black cone and drag the second heart to the top of the stem, however make sure that the heart is touching the stem, and is not floating.

Step 5: Grouping

Drag and select everything, and press the button in the top right that says group. The parts then conjoin and become one cuff link.

Step 6: Finish

To finish, select the first cuff link and press control+D to duplicate it, then separate the two cuff links, and voilà.

If you would like to purchase the cuff link, you can do so here: (I am not related to them, and do not make any profit)
http://i.materialise.com/3dprintlab/instance/e26bfdf4-f12a-4786-9d76-995dd7f1bf06

I hope that you enjoyed my instructable, and if you would like me to do another on a different 3D object, you can request it in the comments below.

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Valentine's Day Contest

UP! Contest

Participated in the
UP! Contest

Make-to-Learn Youth Contest

Participated in the
Make-to-Learn Youth Contest