Project:Cookie Cutters

ProjectInfoBox 3D Printed Cookie Cutters
Status:	done & turned into a seminar
Release Date:	spring 2015
Initiator:	Lukas
Materials Used:	PLA
Tools Used:	3D printer
Software Used:	Cookie Caster or Inkscape & Tinkercad
Approx. Cost:	cents

Designing custom cookie cutters is a great start into 3D printing without any prior experience. Besides access to a 3D printer, you only need a laptop and a couple of ideas!

This project is especially well suited for children and it's great fun to test the newly printed cookie cutters right away!

Simple Shapes

Start by drawing the outline of a cutter on Cookie Caster. This simple web tool turns any 2D path into a 3D cookie cutter with the desired dimensions and a rim to press it into the dough more easily.

A path can be created by hand using the "pen" tool and the "add/delete points" (+ and -) buttons in the top right hand corner or by automatically tracing a picture of your choice. Using this so-called "magic trace" function can be very quick if used on a silhuette or clip-art image but will prevent you from changing single points or curves later on.

two steps in the freehand drawing of an egg - blue dots are corners, orange dots define curves

When the basic cutter is done, download the file with these recommended settings (for stable, but sharp walls):

• Max Size: Small (2-3")
• Height: 0.65"
• Thickness: Extra Thin (1 mm)

Now we could already print this file or add internal shapes using Tinkercad.

Make sure to take a look at the walls in the Slic3r preview and activate "detect thin walls", if necessary: they should not have gaps between their shells, and of course no interruptions in a wall of only one shell.

Combined Stamping Cutters

If you want to create "3D" impressions on your cookies, e.g. internal lines or facial features, you can add the stamping parts by hands in a CAD program. Keep in mind that everything needs to be fixed in place by connections with the main cutter!

Alternatively, Thingiverse user "mrbenbritton" has created an OpenSCAD script that can generate complex cookie cutters from a DXF: Thing #33096

after a few hours, some rather detailed cookie molds are ready for testing