Once I’ve got a solid object I can start knocking holes in it and adding angles by subtracting with various shapes. Once I have a vector file created I export that and then import it into an OpenSCAD file where I can extrude it changing it from a 2D shape to a 3D shape. For a symmetrical drawing like this I really just need to draw half of it, then I just dupe and flip to make the other half and combine them into one. I can then easily switch out the image below and compare things.

I import the images into Inkscape, each layered directly on top of each other, then add another layer on top of that to do the drawing. I did a few scans and even then I edited the image a bit to adjust the contrast. This one is curvy, and I’m not big on drawing curves in OpenSCAD, but I am big on scanning in an object and then tracing it in Inkscape. I’ll walk through the process a bit below.įor an organic shape like this I usually start by putting it on a desktop scanner to get the profile. I tweaked the file just a bit and the second version worked well. The first was a little too wide and wouldn’t quite fit in place. It took two prints to get an acceptable fit. In the photo above you can see the new part in silver, and the two original parts on the other legs, in black. It seemed liked a perfect reason to fire up OpenSCAD and get the 3D printer spitting out a new part.

I was doing a video shoot with Ben Nelson for Brown Dog Gadgets last week and I noticed his Vinten tripod leg had an issue staying locked in place… Seems one of the leg lock pieces had broke in half.

Inkscape for 3d printing