Autodesk 123D Make 1.1 for Mac and Windows has been released. Autodesk 123D Make is free software that allows you to import a 3D model (STL & OBJ) and slice it up into printed patterns. You can then using the pattern build a 3D model from cardboard, wood, plastic, tin, or even fabric. In the past we have created some really cool 3D models from cardboard including fossils, museum pieces, and even the life sized recyclable cardboard CEO named “Carl’board”.

What's new in 123D Make 1.1 for Mac and Windows:

• Folded panels construction technique. Folded panels can be assembled in a variety of ways; tab and slot, stitching, and many more!
• Multiple improvements for CNC users, including the ability to automatically generate Dogbones and T-Bones on cut slices, and to define the cutter tool diameter in manufacturing settings.
• By popular demand: added export option to output your cut layouts in layered DXF format.

123D Make Video on YouTube

Download Autodesk 123D Make
http://www.123dapp.com/make#download-make

After installing you get the dialog that provides the opportunity to learn about 123D Make. I always try to look at these in any application I install that provides one as there is always something I learn as opposed to just installing a product and blindly exploring and potentially learning bad habits or long methods to do something. I won't hold it against anyone that doesn’t watch the videos and loves the exploration learning software brute force as you notice I said I try to watch them but there are time I just both feet in and go. In the case 123D Make I would suggest taking a couple minutes and just understanding how the UI, navigation, slices and patterns work as that will save you a great deal of time in the long run.

My good friend Dr. Louise Leakey the Turkana Basin Institute & Africanfossils.org has printed the 123D Make created patterns for miniature models of ancient skulls on paper lunch boxes so that kids can cut out and build their own 3D printed skull model after eating their lunch. It also provide a way for almost any classroom to have 3D representations of various fossils, museum specimens, or other 3D objects without requiring a 3D printer or expensive materials. You could also capture something using the free Autodesk 123D Catch and then create a pattern from the created model as that is how we created “Carl’board.”

Using 123D Catch I was able to create a 3D model of my head using just photos.

Using 123D Make I was able to import the OBJ from 123D Catch and proceed to slice it up into patterns to construct a 3D physical model from cardboard.

Don’t have any3D models, no problem as there are many stock and gallery 3D models available for free.

Go have some creative fun as it is like 3D printing, but in an abstract way.

Cheers,
Shaan