Introduction: Making and Manipulating Grouped Objects
Now we're going to learn the power of groups!
Instructions
- Continue to the next step.
Step 1: Introduction
We are now going to explore the super power of Tinkercad - combining simple shapes to make complex objects.
Combining shapes is the fundamental purpose of solid modeling. This is how fun stuff like cars, buildings, and spaceships get made. And now, we're going to teach you this super power.
Are you ready? Let's make some cool new shapes!
Instructions
- Continue to the next step.
Step 2: Creating a Compound Shape
Let's begin by combining two cylinders and a box to make a heart.
When you group objects, you need to be careful that there are no gaps between the objects, or they may not stick together when 3D printed.
When the overlapping shapes are combined (remember Boolean addition) the overlapping parts will be removed, and you'll be left with one heart shape.
Instructions
- Drag and place two cylinders and one box in the Workplane. Remember to place them within the hints, so everything is aligned.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 3: Grouping Component Shapes
In order to create one solid object, you will need to group the three overlapping objects together into a heart.
Instructions
- While holding Shift, click each of the shapes. Each selected shape will have a blue glow around it.
- Up in the menu bar, click the Group button.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 4: Duplicating Shapes
Nice job! Now that we have the new single object, let's duplicate it, so we have two.
When you duplicate a shape, it will be placed directly within the original shape. This means, because they are identical, they will appear as one. You will not be able to see both shapes until you move or change one of them.
Instructions
- In the menu bar, go to edit, then select duplicate.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 5: Scaling the Group
Now, scale the duplicate object, so it is centered, smaller, and taller than the original.
A grouped, or complex, shape will scale just like a primitive shape.
Instructions
- While holding Alt (or Command on a Mac) grab the height handle (white square on top), and make the shape taller.
- Grab a corner handle, and while holding Shift and Alt (or Command on a Mac) make the duplicate smaller.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 6: Turning a Group Into Negative Space
Now, let's cut a heart shaped hole in the heart shaped solid.
Like in Lesson 1, we're going to take a Boolean subtraction from another object.
Even though we are working with complex shapes, they still behave as one in Boolean operations.
Instructions
- With the smaller heart selected, choose the Hole property in the Inspector.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 7: Nested Groups
Now select both objects, and use the Group tool in the menu bar.
You just did something amazing! You made a group of groups! And you can easily make a group of groups of groups. You can do this as many times as you like.
This is called "Nested groups", similar to Russian nesting dolls. In fact, we're going to make a new shape with groups of groups.
Instructions
- Select the two hearts, and click the Group button in the menu bar.
- Either delete your shape or move your it to the side of the Workplane so we have room for our next object.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 8: Testing Your Skills
We're going to practice building another group of groups, because it's really important to get used to this idea.
Let's practice your awesome skills and build a house!
Instructions
- Drag out a box and a triangular roof to the Workplane.
- Put the roof on top of the box (20mm off the Workplane).
- Double check that your shapes are aligned relative to one other.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 9: Choose a Color
If you want your shapes to have different colors, you need to change the colors of each shape before you group the shapes.
Because complex shapes behave as one, once the shapes are grouped, changing the color will change the color of the whole complex shape.
Instructions
- Select the color of your house using the Color menu in the Inspector.
- Continue on to the next step.
Step 10: Group Inheritance
Let's group our shapes.
WHOOPS! What happened to our colors?
Group inheritance!
When a group is made, the color of the first item selected will be given to the whole shape.
Don't worry, your computer remembers all the original colors, so let's get them back.
Instructions
- Group your objects.
- Don't worry about the colors! Take a deep breath, and let's get them back.
- Continue to the next step
Step 11: Multicolor
The color menu in the Inspector can change the group to any one color.
If you want to make your design more colorful, there is a special setting at the bottom called "Multicolor."
This will restore the group to the colors of the original shapes.
Instructions
- Select your group and then, in the color menu in the Inspector, select Multicolor.
- Continue to the next step.
Step 12: Scaling the Group
Our house looks a little small. Let's make it bigger. Just like any other shape, we can use the handles of our complex object to scale a group.
Instructions
- Scale the house until it is 50mm long along the Y axis.
- Continue on to the next step
Step 13: Rotating Groups
We also want to create your house, so that it's a bit more exciting than a simple box. Let's duplicate our original shape, and rotate the copy 90°.
Instructions
- Duplicate the shape and rotate it 90° around the Z Axis
- Continue on to the next step.
Step 14: Scaling the Duplicate Object
Hmmm, a cross shaped house looks a little odd. Let's scale the duplicate down to 50 percent of the original length, so that the duplicate's peak stops at the peak of the original.
Instructions
- Make the duplicate part 25mm long.
- Continue on the next step.
Step 15: Adding Doors and Windows
I bet you are getting the hang of this. Why don't you make some doors and windows! Make whatever windows you like. Don't forget to use duplicate to quickly make identical windows!
Instructions
- Customize your house! I bet you could even make a better one, now!
In the next lesson you will learn to line things up!
Next Lesson:Using the Align Tool and the Workplane Helper
