Introduction: Articulated Turtle Fidget Toy
This project is an articulated fidget toy in the shape of a turtle. It was created using Tinkercad and Autodesk Inventor. The process I used to create this can be applied to any shape you want to make articulated. Attached is the .stl file of the turtle. If you just want to print out the turtle, download the .stl file and skip to step 8 - "3D Print". If you want to make it from scratch, just follow the instructions below. Skip to the step 9 ("Creating An Articulated Fidget Toy That's Not A Turtle") if you're interested in making something articulated other than a turtle. Credit to Nerys on Thingiverse for creating the tools used to make this articulated.
Attachments
Supplies
Step 1: Create the Outline
Use the attached images as a basis to sketch the turtle in Autodesk Inventor. I started out with an ellipse for the body, connected to a rectangle for the neck, the a circle for the head. The rest was made using the line and arc tools. I used the trim tool to clean up the appearance. When you've made the outline sketch, extrude it 8 mm - this dimension is important later.
Step 2: Add Fillets
This step is fairly simply. Click on the fillet tool, select the sharp edges (see picture) and apply a fillet. Make it as big as you can.
Step 3: Create Turtle Shell
Create a new sketch on the top or bottom of the turtle. Use the line tool to create the pattern shown in the pictures. You can use project geometry and the trim tool to select the outline of the turtle only where it intersects with lines you just drew. The space between lines should be 1 mm. Then, select break link to make it a part of the sketch and close the loop. Extrude the new sketch with the cut option turned on and through all selected (or a depth of 8+ mm).
Step 4: Import Components Into Tinkercad
Export an .stl of the turtle from Tinkercad. Then go to this object on Thingiverse (made by Nerys) and download all 3 files. Import all these components into Tinkercad. Convert the punch tool and the slicer tool to holes. Tip: it is easier if the turtle and hinge are different colors.
Step 5: Add Slicers
Use the photo as a guide to place 5 copies of the slicer tool on the turtle. You will need to rotate them and shorten the length. Do not make them any thinner or thicker than 1 mm. Once the slicers are in position, group them with the turtle.
Step 6: Add Hinges and Hinge Holes
Make copies of the hinge and punch tool until there are 11 of each. Line up the hinges and punch tools as shown in the photos. The punch tool and hinge should both line up with the edge of the slot as pictured. You will need to rotate some of them. Do not change the size of the hinge or punch tool.
Step 7: Group Everything (In Order)
Once the hinges and punch tool pieces are aligned properly, group all the punch tools (and only the punch tools) with the turtle. Then group the hinges with the turtle. It is important to group things in this order and not all at once because it ensures the punch tool only removes material from the turtle and not the hinge.
Step 8: 3D Print
Export an .stl file from Tinkercad and slice it. Use whatever slicer you want. Use a raft and a higher infill. Other than that, I have no recommended settings. Once the turtle is printed, remove the raft and it should be ready to fidget with. You shouldn't have to loosen up the joints or anything like that.
Step 9: Creating an Articulated Fidget Toy That's Not a Turtle
This process for creating an articulated fidget toy can be applied to any flat shape, not just a turtle. Pictured here are a rhino and a dolphin that I've made. Simply design the object you want and follow the process in this Instructable starting with step 4. Import the components, position the slicers where you want and group them, then add the hinges and punch tools to those slots. After that, group the punch tools, then hinges, then export the .stl and print. If you're looking for ideas on what to articulate go back to Thingiverse and search for "articulated". You can also go to the link in step 4 and click on the remixes tab for more ideas on what to articulate.