58 3D Print a Marionette

LYSSA TROEMEL / MAKER LAB GUIDE

Allen County Public Library–Georgetown Branch

Type of Library Best Suited for: Public or School

Cost Estimate: $15–$40 plus cost of 3D printer

Makerspace Necessary? No

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

In this project, participants will make a 3D-printed marionette using the Tinkerplay app for iPad and Android or by having participants create their own pieces using Tinkercad. It introduces participants to 3D design, using a 3D printer, and the art form of puppetry.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This is a program that was offered to all ages, but seemed to be most popular with children and young adults. It introduces them to designing in a 3D or CAD (computer-aided design) workspace and using the 3D printer. With pieces preprinted, it can be done in two hours or less. If pieces are not preprinted, it will take two days on separate weeks to allow for print time. This program was first done in March to coincide with World Puppetry Day, but it can be done at any time during the year. The class is limited to six participants due to room size and equipment.

MATERIALS LIST

◦ 3D-printed parts
◦ Fishing line
◦ Yarn
◦ Popsicle sticks
◦ Drinking straw

NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

◦ 3D printer
◦ iPad and computer with Internet access
◦ Hot glue gun
◦ Dremel Rotary Tool (to clear any supports inside pieces)

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Design the marionette in either Tinkerplay or Tinkercad. Tinkerplay has a simple drag-and-drop interface along with templates for several different figures. Tinkercad also uses drag and drop. Tinkercad is set up more like CAD software than the app, so this will allow patrons more freedom to design and size the pieces as they see fit. Everything can be resized using click and drag on the corners, or a number can be typed in for better accuracy. Be sure to add a hole in the pieces to string them to the rest of the puppet.

Step 2

Print the pieces. Tinkerplay will give you an IP address and you can download the pieces from the page it takes you to. Tinkercad allows you to download the file using the export feature. The file format should be .stl or .obj. You may need to add supports for some pieces. Most slicing software will automatically generate supports, but if the software won’t, Meshmixer can be used. If you can print pieces separately, I would suggest printing the feet at 100 percent infill to make them heavier and easier to move. If you wish to do this project in one day, I would suggest preprinting the pieces in Tinkerplay. If you wish to do it in multiple days, you can print the pieces after participants have finished designing and arrange them on the buildplate to maximize print time.

Step 3

Use the Dremel to clear out any supports in the middle of the piece. This will allow for the fishing line to go all the way through.

Step 4

After clearing out supports, start to put together the marionette in the following way:

Hot glue the fishing line in the socket and string on the arm pieces, then hot glue the hands to keep them on the fishing line. In the hip joints, run a piece of fishing line through the sockets for the legs and hot glue to keep it in place. String on the legs and then hot glue the ends of the feet. If there is only one hole for the hip joint, hot glue the fishing line in place. String the torso on top of the hip joint and hot glue the neck. Attach the head. If there is a hole through the top of the head, run the fishing line all the way through the top and hot glue at the top.

Step 5

String the marionette to the control bar:

◦ The control bar should be in a cross formation with a small piece of straw on the end.
◦ The head should be anchored to the middle to keep it standing up using fishing line. This should be hot glued in place.
◦ The arms should be tied to the arms of the control bar and hot glued on the hands.
◦ A string on the hips will allow the marionette to bow. This can also be tied to the back of the control bar using yarn.
◦ The legs should be on one piece of yarn threaded through the straw on the front. The ends of the yarn should be hot glued to the feet.

The reason for tying the ends of the yarn to the control bar is to allow for easy disentanglement. The yarn will get tangled at some point, but by tying some of the yarn instead of hot gluing it, this makes it easier to take off, and it should be easier to untangle.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This project teaches

◦ 3D design
◦ Using the 3D printer
◦ Introduction to one of many puppetry forms

RECOMMENDED NEXT PROJECTS

After this project, experiment with 3D printing. If you used Tinkerplay, try using Tinkercad to design something from scratch like a keychain or maybe another marionette. If you used Tinkercad, try moving on to another CAD software or try to make something more complex. This could be a great way to explore making joints if you don’t want to use fishing line inside the pieces. You can also explore different kinds of puppetry and how you would use a 3D printer in the process of making them. Some examples would be to make eyes and eye mechanisms for hand puppets or sock puppets, flat-figured shadow puppets, and rod puppets. If you have a local guild or puppeteer, you may want to see if they would be willing to lead a workshop on operating the puppet.