{"id":245,"date":"2026-07-08T06:51:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T06:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndovu.org.uk\/cs\/?p=245"},"modified":"2026-07-08T07:00:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T07:00:06","slug":"term-3-7-bringing-the-machine-together-assembly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndovu.org.uk\/cs\/term-3-7-bringing-the-machine-together-assembly\/","title":{"rendered":"Term 3.7: Bringing the Machine Together (Assembly)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Putting the pieces together!<\/strong> Today, we learn the Align<\/em> command to get everything straight before sending it to the 3D printer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Infographic Blueprint:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This image shows how all the pieces from previous weeks\u2014the clock , the gear, and the key \u2014come together on a baseplate with alignment pegs!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u26a1\ufe0f TinkerCAD Hotkeys for today:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • L:<\/strong> (Align) The most important command for assembly. Line up your shapes perfectly!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • A:<\/strong> (Select all). Draw a big red box around everything or press Ctrl+A<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ctrl+G:<\/strong> (Group) the entire assembly at the end.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • W:<\/strong> (Press W) and click anywhere in the blue empty space to turn the floor blue again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Step-by-Step Instructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We are going to connect the pieces together today or at least make the connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First lets add the shaft to the gears so that the mechanism can turn when its finished<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This is just a cylinder which is 6mm x 6mm <\/strong>\u00a0– use the alignment tool to get it in the right place<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Don’t forget to make it tall enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now do the same on the second gear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    (The dimensions are the same as the first one)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The second shaft needs a square end to fit our key – let’s add one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (Its slightly smaller than the key square so it fits easily)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    We also need a hole in the clock face for the shaft to go through<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Its slightly bigger than 6mm so the shaft doesn’t get stuck<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now lets make a hand for our clock using the sketch tool (the squares on the background are all 1mm and we should have a hand that isn’t thicker than the shaft)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This can now be glued onto the end of the shaft<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We also need a base plate so the two cogs can sit on it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This is basically just two rectangles which touch each other 182x12mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Then add the cross section 49×21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    You then need to add in the two cylinders – check the size so they fit the holes in the base of the cogs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Check the height of the cylinder is around 10mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Then select the first cylinder, hold shift <\/strong>click the second cylinder and press r <\/strong>this will produce the ruler so you can check the distance between the two cylinders is 90 mm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    We can now add the holes in the centre of the cogs so that they can rotate on the base plate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You’ll need to look from the bottom and use the align tool to get the cylinder central<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Can you see how we have changed the bottom of the cogs so they sit on the base? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    It’s now ready to print (these are printing at 60% of the original size to fit them all on)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When its finished it should look something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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