3D printed light brackets

Project - Brackets for light installation

‍3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a process of creating three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that remove material to create a shape, 3D printing builds an object layer by layer, with each successive layer adhering to the one before it. This process allows for the creation of complex shapes and geometries that would be difficult or impossible to produce with conventional techniques.

On August 12, 2025, we held our first 3D printing class - Tinkercad. Tinkercad is a free, web-based software for 3D design, electronics, and coding. It's owned by Autodesk, a leader in professional design software, and is widely known for its user-friendly interface that makes it an ideal tool for beginners, students, and hobbyistsThe core concept of Tinkercad's 3D design is based on constructive solid geometry. This means you build complex models by adding and subtracting simple, pre-made shapes like cubes, spheres, and cylinders. You can drag and drop these "solid" and "hole" shapes onto a virtual workplane to create your designs.

A local 3D printing hobbyist, Mitchell Irvan, volunteered his time and knowledge to teach other community members. He walked through the process of creating a keychain, shared tips and tricks for design aspects, and displayed some of his 3D printed works. One of the students in the class introduced the program to a coworker and they created brackets for use in vehicle lighting. The brackets (see picture) are prototypes for now, but will be printed in carbon fiber impregnated filament for production use. The concept of these brackets could also be used in various other industries and for household use.

To join our next class, or find other topics of interest, visit our event listings. We'd love to see you at our next class!