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3D Modeling Challenge: Print-in-Place Designs

Share your Print-in-Place #3Dprint designs and win gift cards and other prizes!

THE CHALLENGE

Theme: Print-in-Place models are fun and unique 3D prints because they use various hinges, links, and joints to create moving parts that are printed in a single take. For this challenge, we’re seeking your creative ideas to design a #3Dprint that includes at least one (or more) Print-in-Place feature.

Here are some ideas to get you kickin’ – animals with hinged legs, various boxes or parts with hinges, collapsable tubes (i.e. lightsaber!), gears, adjustable phone stands.

Criteria: Entries will be voted on by their creativity, uniqueness, ability to solve a problem, and the story behind them.

*your entry does NOT need to be 3D printed but should consider the limitations of various 3D printing methods and materials.

LEARNING RESOURCES

New to designing for Print-in-Place parts? No worries!

Here are some great resources to help you get started:

PRIZES

#3Dprint – Print-in-Place 3D Modeling Challenge
  • Grand prize: $200 Amazon Gift Card* + Lifetime membership to the PDO Academy ($599 value)
  • 2nd place: $100 Amazon gift card* + 1 year access (annual membership) to the PDO Academy ($229 value)
  • 3rd place: $75 Amazon gift card* + 1 month access (monthly membership) to PDO Academy ($60 value)
  • 4th place: $50 Amazon gift card*
  • 5th place: $50 Amazon gift card*
  • 6th place: $25 Amazon gift card*
  • 7th place: $25 Amazon gift card*

Special thanks to the wonderful folks at Thangs.com for sponsoring this challenge and providing the prizes!

*an equivalent and equal prize will be rewarded to the winner(s) if Amazon is not available in your area
**T-shirt and hat are available to ship only to U.S. Residents. Non-US Residents are still eligible for the Amazon gift card or equal prize.

CHALLENGE DEADLINE

  • Submissions – accepted until Friday, October 8th, 2021 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
  • Winners – announced Friday, October 15th, 2021 on this page and Thangs social media.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

  • Create an original 3D Model that includes at least one “print-in-place” part. Be creative and solve a problem/invent something new!
  • No limit to the number of entries per contestant
  • Submit Entry – upload your 3D designs to Thangs.com including the hashtag #3Dprint in the model’s description
    • Note: put the hashtag in the description and NOT the title of the model
  • Include 2-3 sentences explaining your design
    • The more detail included in the story, the more the judges will understand your idea!
Thangs.com 3D modeling competition
Upload all of your entries to Thangs.com with the hashtag #3Dprint

SHARE YOUR DESIGNS

Sharing your designs on social media?

Use the hashtags #3Dprint, #thangs3d, and #pdo and we’ll share them with the community!


Use the hashtags #3Dprint, #thangs3d, and #pdo

JUDGES

Entries will be judged on quality, creativity, adherence to the challenge theme, and suitability for 3D printing.

  • Kevin Kennedy from Product Design Online
  • Thangs.com team members
  • Fusion 360 team members

Winners will be announced the following Friday, October 15th, 2021 on this page and Thangs social media.

QUESTIONS?

Join the PDO community and post your questions, comments, share progress, and more.

FAQs

Who is the challenge for?

The challenge is open to everyone with access to 3D modeling software – it doesn’t have to be Fusion 360. You are welcome to share the challenge with your School, Makerspace, or other organization. Make it a friendly competition and challenge your friend!

Where can I ask for help?

Join the PDO community and post your questions, comments, share progress, and more. Ask your questions, share progress, bounce ideas around, or simply stop by and say hello!

Does it cost anything to enter?

Nope! You can use free modeling software, including Fusion 360. Solutions are uploaded to Thangs.com, which is also completely free. No payment is required to be eligible to win the prizes.

Where do I submit my design?

All submissions should be uploaded to Thangs.com with hashtag #3Dprint in the model’s description. This is required so the Judges can see all the submissions.

How much time do I need to allocate for the challenge?

Spend 15 minutes or several hours – This is up to you! You can submit one small project, multiple projects, or one time-intensive project.

Are there prizes to be won?

Yes! These are the following prizes:

  • Grand prize: $200 Amazon Gift Card* + Lifetime membership to the PDO Academy ($599 value)
  • 2nd place: $100 Amazon gift card* + 1 year access (annual membership) to the PDO Academy ($229 value)
  • 3rd place: $75 Amazon gift card* + 1 month access (monthly membership) to PDO Academy ($60 value)
  • 4th place: $50 Amazon gift card*
  • 5th place: $50 Amazon gift card*
  • 6th place: $25 Amazon gift card*
  • 7th place: $25 Amazon gift card*

Special thanks to the wonderful folks at Thangs.com for sponsoring this challenge and providing the prizes!

*an equivalent and equal prize will be rewarded to the winner(s) if Amazon is not available in your area
**T-shirt and hat are available to ship only to U.S. Residents. Non-US Residents are still eligible for the Amazon gift card or equal prize.

Do I need a 3D printer?

You’re encouraged to 3D print your design and share photos with your submission and with the community, but 3D printing your design is NOT required to win.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

  • No purchase necessary.
  • By entering this competition, entrants will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to the conditions.
  • No stealing or ripping of models available on the Internet, all entries must be original works created by the entrant.
  • The judges’ decisions are 100% final. In case of dispute, no correspondence will be entered into.
  • Winning entries (models) will be documented and may be used for promotional purposes on social media.
  • Contestant’s models must be uploaded to Thangs.com and tagged #3Dprint in the model description to be considered as an entry.
  • The contest and prizes are not open to Physna/Thangs employees or their families.
  • Winners retain all Intellectual Property as per Thangs’ Terms and Conditions.
  • The winners will be contacted by Friday, October 15th, 2021.
  • The prize is not sponsored by Amazon or any Amazon subsidiaries.
  • Promoter: Thangs, 30 W. 30 Street, Floor 5, Cincinnati, OH 45202

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