Modeling mesh style wall frames - Beginner

Hi All, 

In this blog I will share how to model and print setting to for mesh style Wall frame for decor.

These are quite trending at this moment.

This blog is for beginner level, where creating complex mesh is difficult task. We take advantage of the slicer settings explained later in the blog...

Alternatively I have created a software available at 

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/wall-art-customiser

What do you need? 

• Image 
• Personal or celebrity 
• A PC / Laptop 
• Slicer software
• Tinkercad 

Finding and preparing Image 

• Search on google if celebrity 
• Eg : robert downey jr
• When you search you will get all kinds of images, we donto want color images...
• So add “vector art single color black and white” to search string 
• Find what you like, right click and save in downloads folder
• Go to https://convertio.co/png-svg/ 
  
  
  
• And convert the file and save in downloads folder
• The file must be SVG
• Open in browser to check the image.
  

Creating a frame 

• Goto Tinkercad > create new 3d design
  
  
  
• You need to create an account, use gmail id to make one
• I will explain using cube, but you can change to any other geometric shape 
• Add a cube on the plate and adjust the size.
  
  
  
• If your frame is larger than the 200mm, then directly type in the dimension box as shown
• Adjust the height, length and width
  
  
  
• Add a hole cube on the plate and adjust the size.
  
• Adjust the height, length and width
  
  
  
• If your frame is larger than the 200mm, then directly type in the dimension box as shown
• I wanted 10mm thickness of the frame, so created 180x 180 mm
• Select both cubes and align center
  
  
  
• Now Group – Ctl+ G
  
  
  
• Change color if you want.. 

Creating blank Mesh

• Add another cube, change color to white
• Set Height to 1mm and length and width same as the frame or smaller. 
• But not smaller than the frame thickness
• Align with the frame, donot group or merge
• Mesh is created in slicer, will show how in next steps

Importing Image in tinkercad

• Use the import button and select the svg file we create earlier
  

  
  
  
• Adjust the dimensions, height and color
  
• Align with the frame and mesh

Exporting STL files 

• Remember we have not combined any objects
• We have the frame, mesh and the SVG 
• Export each by selecting and export as STL in same folder
• This give use option to change color for each part

Slicer Settings

• Open a new project 
• Set filament 1 as white and 2 and black
• Drag 3 files together and drop in, Select yes as multipart
  
• Optional : Go to Objects, and set colors as you wish
  
• If you donot have AMS, set color as white and change filament at layer height to black as needed.
• In Object settings not global, for the Mesh, set top and bottom layers as Zero
• 

  

  
  
  
  
• Change Infill to honeycomb
  
  
  
• Play with Infill density to get desired gap and thickness for the mesh

Validate and print

• Slice the model and check
• If you do not have AMS then set filament color to white for mesh height and then to black

This method is begineer freindly, 

• Faster during modelling
• Slicer settings to control mesh gaps and thickness
• Limited Mesh options

Please share your feedback, if you have query, leave a comment. Stay tunned for method 2. Where one needs little more knowledge of Tinkercad. That will give you options to change to any kind of mesh shapes.

If you would like to have a software that does this for you. leave a query, I can create one, that uses SVG file as input, you set parameters and export a STL file.