Isometric Drawings Basics and Applications

Welcome back to the basics. In this post, let's talk about ISOMETRIC drawing ... (again). 

(For past posts about isometric drawings, tips, techniques and practices, click >> ISOMETRIC)

The Isometric drawing is one of many 3D drawing techniques you can use to present your ideas. They are both useful and easy to produce, but they are not the best 3D simulation of an object.

Easy-Peasy

Easy because a basic block is simply three pairs of parallel line (see the gif presentation above). 

However, a simple as it may sound, most students struggle with getting the pairs of parallel lines right -- as a result, they often end up with distorted blocks. Look, this can get pretty mental, especially when one sincerely thinks he's got the parallel line orientations the right way, when in reality, they diverge in different directions. You can call that 'sleeping', or unconsciousness.

Unfortunately, the only way to get past this frustration is to develop a sense of awareness that the lines have strayed, and to be able to correct its path - and an intention to practice (getting them right). Which means sketching, and more sketching practices.

I have students who never seem to get past decent. The only reason seems to be -- no practice.

Usefulness

Definitely one of the most effective (and commonest) 3D drawing technique around. One isometric perspective shows all three views of a single object. 

The downside is when you have a looooooog object, this is where it begins to look funny. You know that when an object is far away, visually, they get smaller. Not that they become physically smaller, but perspectively, due to distance, they appear smaller. But that is not the case at all with an isometric drawing. You can have a full kilometer long 20mmx20mm cross section bar drawn full-scale on paper, the end of the rod will look just as big (or tiny) as the front. 

If you must solve that problem of forever-parallel-lines, the close cousin of isometric is the 2-point perspective. Just in case you might be curious about who's the cousin of 1-point perspective -- that's the oblique drawing.

Applied Isometric Drawings 

In the real world of objects and products, things are more than just three pairs of parallel lines.

In addition to learning how to draw a basic 3D isometric block (long, short, wide, narrow, fat, skinny, and so on), you've got to be able to manage slopes, curves, slots, holes, debosses and embosses too (see here >> ISOMETRIC). Have a look around you. Identify how many things you have that is a square block. Probably none.

The example (below) shows the evolution of ONE basic 3D isometric block, expanding into an infinite surficial possibilities. Generally, the following list are three extras mixed into and/or added to a block, to make any known or imagined forms: 

1. block cuts and add-ons (stack ups)

2. slope cuts (non-isometric lines)

3. ellipse (holes, fillets)

One VERY IMPORTANT (or rather, INTERESTING) point to note, is that, each of the three extras listed above MUST (or preferably) be generated from ... an exactly proportioned isometric block.

Look closely at each drawing. You'll notice in every cut, slot, hole, slope, and so on, is a guide-box. A square (or rectangular) cut is another wire-framed box within or outside (stacked or extended). A non-isometric slope is derived from two points marked on two isometric edges. An ellipse (the isometric perspective of a 2D circle) - from an isometric surface - on both ends of a block makes a cylinder, or a flat-topped cone.

Conclusion

The isometric drawing technique is a useful tool both in sketching and drawing, throughout the design process. They can be used for quick ideation sketches to detailed working drawings. Anyone can learn how to sketch and draw an isometric. But a decent and convincing sketch is more than just technical proficiency. Sketching and drawing is an ART - a line has flow and life. Every stroke is significant line from light drafts, to pin-point guides, to the last finished line.

For more examples, look here > ISOMETRIC). You may find something relevant and useful for your learning and exploration. Email me if you wish to see an expansion or demonstration on how to draw any of the isometric drawings you see above.

#IsometricDrawing #TechnicalDrawing #DesignSketching #3DSketching #ProductDesign #DrawingBasics #DesignEducation #DTeducation #VisualCommunication #SketchPractice #IndustrialDesign #EngineeringDrawing #PerspectiveDrawing #DesignSkills #SketchTips

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Wooden Metatron Standing Clock - Adobe Illustrator and Laser Cut

Availability of technologies like the laser cutting machine with illustration softwares (the Adobe Illustrator) has made design and prototyping the Archangel Metatron Standing Clock an easy affair.

 

The Archangel Metatron Standing Clock was almost designed rom scratch. I got the Metatron sacred geometry online and had it vectorised. 

I held the naked clock mechanism on one hand, and visually determined a nice mounting height with a steel rule from the table top. The spine, was designed as I measured (and noted) the dimensions of the clock mechanisms case. There, was where I figured out details of holding, securing, and how it may stand on two layers of a rounded base. Decisions about the final dimensions are scribbled on scrap paper (below left).

So what inspired the act to design, and make? Firstly my living room is missing a clock. Secondly I wanted to see how quickly I can create one. Thirdly, a Metatron geometry reminds of balance and harmony in the universe. 

#metatron #archanglemetatron #clock #clockdesign #standingclock #designandtecnology #productdesign #lasercutting #adobeillustrator #innovation #creativity #time

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Tinkercad 3D Design & Print - Pencil Extender

A pencil extension gives life to ... ... pencils. Pencils that are too short to be practically held. 

One way is to buy a pencil extender, but, it is way more cool to design and print one yourself. And that's what I did.

However, that being said, one can always improvise and use any available material(s) such as rolled paper at the end of a short pencil and some tape. But if you have access to a 3D printer and a free platform like Tinkercad, that'll make it look much cleaner and more product-'designerly'.

Below you'll see the 3D model of the pencil extender and the actual product in use. The extender has slotted 'windows' on both sides so users can 1) see where the end of the pencil is, and 2) use the slot to 'dig' an ultra short pencil out if the entire pencil is stuck in the holder. 

A regular pencil stays nicely in the holder, however I still use tape to bind the opening of the holder to make a tighter fit, so the pencil may be more stable when it's being used.

In design, there will be iterations. No matter how well the thought or plan is. As much as I wanted the pencil to work first time it is printed, reality is far from the truth.

I eventually went with version 3 (the image below shows up to version 2) where I continually modified the hole and the side gaps of the holder, with more aesthetic refinements. 

So here you have it.  A short pencil extender. And now all pencils are loved till they are no more.

#pencils #productdesign #productinnovation #innovation #creativity #pencilextender #designandtecnology #technology

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Dog Note and Pencil Holder – From Sketch to 3D Print with Tinkercad

Doggy Note and Pencil Holder. 

Every students’ first idea about what they want to design and make. 

But how can pencil holders be out of the ordinary, not the usual box and slot type?

Ideas Generation

First steps to ideas generation is always the exploration stage. 

Nothing fanciful at this stage. I’m just exploring how to hold a piece of papers starting with a simple block. It’s not a time to think about shapes and forms now unless the challenge is ‘form before function’, which is not the case now.

Using block as a starter helps me focus better on the function - about how to make things work. About how to make holding a piece of papers effective, easy, and maybe fun.

Ideas about using curved slots to hold paper is not new in my experience. I’ve explored ways to hold notes quite extensively 10 years back. I will not be repeating them here but you can find various posts related to note holders here. 

But I’ll give you a quick summary about the curved slot concept. 

Paper tends to want to stay flat when you bend it. 

That’s the elasticity in the structure of paper. Making use of this principle, I figured out if I have a narrow curved slot compared with a straight one, the paper can be held in place as it tries to straighten out but couldn’t. It’ll remain ‘stuck’. On the other hand, it’ll slide out easily if it’s a straight slot.

Exploring more Ideas into the Refinement and Development Phase

In this series of sketches I’ve ventured into shapes and forms. Borrowed from the profile of a dog and the idea that the dog is bringing the owner ‘newspapers’ from the door, this is the familiar “Meaningful Design” design teaching approach back in 2009 where I presented in the MOE Design & Technology Conference 2009 to share the concept of bringing ‘meaning’ into ‘designs’ - where design tells a story. You can find the post here.

Before this students’ work in D&T had been craft like, mainly functional ornamental works which I find lacking thoughts, emotions, and any fun at all.

The Final Concept Ready for Rapid Prototyping

I drafted the final concept in various perspectives while working out if the idea would work in real life. By this time I’ve already gotten the critical dimensions of a typical pencil. Worked out a rough form and proportion of the design. 

I’ve always emphasised with my students it is very important to include the items to be held when presenting their ideas. Most students would draw a holder, but without the items they are intended to hold. This way of designing has several problems:

1. You cannot gauge if the holder will be the right size without the items drawn in, proportionately.
2. You cannot tell if the product would work because there is no context to the holder. It is holding nothing.
3. You will always have the illusion that it will work.

Tinkercad 3D Modeling

 

To build the form of the dog, building it one block at a time will take too long. Making slots at the mouth will involve multiple steps that require many steps with negative cuts. With the ‘Sketch’ tool, the profile of the dog can be sketched out easily.

The image on the left shows shadows (translucent orange) of ‘hole’ shapes used to cut the other slots in the design.

Tinkercad Model Breakdown

Above Left: Here you can see the 3D model of the dog profile and its respective ‘hole’ shapes for the pencil and paper slots.

Above Right: That is another variation using the same dog profile from the left. In this design I cut a circular top for a pencil to rest on, instead of putting it through a vertical slot.

In this example I’ve shown that once you have a base design, you can then copy and modify it later into other variation. This step is useful if you want to test different design configurations or to find out which works best.

Contextual Presentation

 

A quick model mock up of how the holder may look like with its respective items. I found the pencil from the search function. And I used the sketch function to draw the paper.

3D Prints

Two variations of the Doggy Note & Pencil Holder

Conclusions

The moment of truth - if the idea or concept works or not - is in the 3D print out. 

I made a couple of iterations to the gap of the mouth to make the paper ‘stick’ better and not slide out too easily. A curved gap of about 1mm is good but printing the holder vertically posed challenges to the horizontally orientated mouth. The top curve will need to be supported. I chose the ‘tree’ support from the print bed. 

The larger curved slot at the back are for additional papers, and that too cannot be too wide. If the gap is too wide the stack of papers will feel loose on the holder. Mine is about 4mm wide at the back. Trying to store a few pieces of papers on any gaps more than 4mm wide, even if it is curved, will feel weak as far as grip is concerned.

Overall, the prints turned out quite well. What I need to work on next are 3D printing settings to optimise print time and print quality.

I hope you like this post. Let me know what you think. Or share with me what you would like to see in my future posts.

#3Dprint #tinkercad #productdesign #pencilholder #noteholder #innovation

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Design a Snail Cup Coaster with Tinkercad with the "Sketch" Tool

SNAILS Coaster Design on Tinkercad

The thought about making a snail coaster is not new. About a decade or more ago I designed a snail coaster and had it cut out with a laser cutter. Which was used a a door gift to all the participants in a Design & Technology teachers conference. 

SNAILS again

Here again I thought of snails when I begin tinkering with Tinkercad. Some things never change.

Don't they look so cute when you have a family of them?

TOP VIEW

45 Degrees View

How Do I Make This Profile in TInkercad? 

I am guessing you want to know how I made this. If you used Tinkercad you'll quickly understand that this snail profile will be extremely tricky if you use the basic combining shapes method. Not only that - you may go crazy.

Glad that I found the "Sketch" tool. This tool is an incredible feature. I cannot NOT use it as soon as I learned about what it is and what it can do in Tinkercad. While it's features with the pen tool cannot be compared with the likes in Adobe Illustrator - however once it's limitation & simplicity is understood - more complex shapes can easily be created.

Several layers of "sketch" took place to create the final snail coaster profile I was looking for. 

Something that was impossible for me in Tinkercad is now possibilities only limited by my imagination. 

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Want to learn Tinkercad and start designing? Feel free to contact me at mrdanielsos@yahoo.com.sg for more details.

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How to Design & Print a Clipboard & Pencil Holder with Tinkercad

What do you do with a clipboard?

You write.

What do you write with? A pen or a pencil.

Since I often draft my work with a pencil, I thought—why not make my own clipboard pencil holder?

Modelling the Idea

In the example above, you’ll see how I like to model my designs. I copy and paste each iteration as I go, partly to document the process and partly to save time—if I need an edit, a spare part or want to revisit an earlier design, it’s just a copy-paste.

It also makes for a clean presentation. You can easily follow the steps of the clipboard pencil development.

Functional Iteration: Add a Grip Gap

One of the key refinements was adding a gap to improve the pencil’s grip. Unfortunately the PLA filament does not have the elasticity to flex. And so I ended up with a full ring design.

Put to Other Use?

Interestingly, I  also played around with placing it in different locations—on the side of the table, for example—where it worked surprisingly well.

Let's get that thing to work. The Hexagon Problem

Here’s where things got tricky.

The pencil slots were intentionally designed as hexagonal meant to match the cross-section of a typical pencil. I accounted for the exact dimensions of the pencil in my 3D model—but forgot about tolerance.

The 3D printer has a 0.4mm nozzle. That means it will print 0.2mm both sides of the printer head. As a result, the pencil didn’t fit, the hole was too small. After widening the hole by 0.4mm and more, it fit but was still a little loose. 

If I were to redesign the slot, I’ll make it round.

This clipboard pencil holder works just as expected. It fitted perfectly with the double clip. It’s magical when the pencil seem to float behind the spine of the double clip. Taking the pencil out and putting it back is a breeze. Overall I quite like the outcome. 

Above: Close-ups of the back view

Lesson Learned: Prototype the Pencil Slots First

Here’s a key insight from the process:

Next time, I’ll isolate and print just the part that holds the pencil—and do it in a range of slightly different profiles (round, hexagon, and so on) and sizes. That way, I will be able to test all the options at once and pick the best fit before embedding it into the full design. This will save filament, time, and frustration.

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Your Turn

I hope you enjoyed this creation.

If it sparked your curiosity, why not try designing your own clipboard pencil holder? It doesn’t have to be based on mine—but feel free to borrow the idea and evolve it into something that fits your way of working.

And if you do, I’d love to see what you come up with. Share your designs with me! 

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Want to learn Tinkercad and start designing? Feel free to contact me at mrdanielsos@yahoo.com.sg for more details.

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3D Printing in Design & Technology: Simple Classroom Projects That Work

3D Design and Print – Pencil Extender

Why buy something when you can design and print it yourself?

That was the question I asked when I first encountered 3D printing.

I’ve always enjoyed designing and making little things that work—objects with a purpose. From pencil holders to organisers for tools and stationery, I’ve built a variety of items to keep my workspace neat and functional. My making experience, until recently, had been grounded in traditional resistant materials using hand tools and machines. That changed when I started using 3D printing—not by choice, but by necessity (and I mean that in the best way). 

At my current school, 3D printing has become integral to the design process, especially when fast, precise prototyping is required.

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Rapid Prototyping

Rapid prototyping is a powerful strategy to test, evaluate, and iterate design ideas quickly. CAD/CAM technologies—once limited to industrial use since their emergence in the 1950s and 60s—have now evolved into accessible platforms for both professionals and hobbyists. Today, they sit at the heart of modern design education and rapid iteration.

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Learning CAD/CAM

Coming from a traditional background, I initially found learning CAD/CAM challenging. I’ve always believed that before I can teach, I must first reach a respectable level of proficiency myself. But time rarely affords the luxury of long learning curves. So I did what any good designer would: I experimented. I failed, adjusted, relearned, and practiced again.

Now, I’ve grown comfortable enough to confidently use Tinkercad, a highly intuitive platform perfect for quick and simple designs. It’s not about mastering every feature—it's about knowing enough to think and act in the medium.

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Examples of My Designs

Dollar Coin Holder Key Tag

A compact keychain attachment that fits a dollar coin—ideal for unlocking shopping trolleys without needing to fumble through your wallet.

 

 

Pencil Extender

Designed to give short pencils a second life—simple, minimal, and effective.

Clipboard Pencil Holder

A small add-on that clips directly onto a clipboard, holding your pencil securely in place.

Other ways to use Clipboard Pencil Holder

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Reflection

I’m far from an expert in 3D design, and there are many advanced features I’ve yet to explore. But the deliberate hours I’ve invested—tinkering (pun intended), refining, troubleshooting—have all been worth it. Now, I can edit and improve student designs on the spot. Many of them assume I’m an expert. Maybe that’s good enough—for now.

One of the most rewarding moments in class is when a student sees their finalised design materialise—layer by layer—on the 3D printer. That moment of awe, when their idea becomes a physical object, never gets old. It validates the entire process.

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Final Thoughts

I encourage every Design & Technology teacher and student to embrace 3D design and printing—not just as a skill, but as a mindset. Even if your national syllabus, like Singapore’s MOE D&T curriculum, doesn’t formally include it, there’s still space to experiment. Use it to make small components, product features, or even hardware substitutes you’d otherwise have to buy off the shelf.

Here’s to more designs, more prints, and more possibilities.

Go, go, go.

#DesignAndTechnology #3DPrinting #Tinkercad #CADCAM #RapidPrototyping #STEMEducation #ClassroomProjects #TeacherMaker #DigitalFabrication #ProductDesign #TechEd #HandsOnLearning #StudentInnovation #EducationTechnology #DIYDesign

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