SUMMIT PROTOWORKS • DIY PROJECT 1

DIY Door Nameplate

Build a simple two-colour door nameplate while following the complete 3D design process.

Concept → Model → Slice → Print → Evaluate

Before you begin: This DIY project focuses on the 3D design workflow. It assumes you already have basic familiarity with Tinkercad and your chosen slicer (such as Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer). Detailed software operation and printer setup are not covered in this project.

1. Concept — Define the need

The project is a door nameplate. Turn the idea into measurable requirements before modelling.

Purpose
Display on a door

Base
170 × 40 × 5 mm

Text area
150 × 20 mm

Appearance
Black base; white Arial Bold text

Mounting
Double-sided tape

Material
PLA recommended. Easy to print, provides good detail, and is suitable for an indoor nameplate.

Clearance
Name centred with at least 10 mm at each end

2. Model — Build it in Tinkercad

Tinkercad provides immediate visual feedback and is suitable for this beginner project.

1. Open Tinkercad. Create an account, log in and choose Create → 3D Design.

2. Set the workplane. Choose Settings at the bottom right. Set the workplane to 200 × 200 mm and scale to 1:1.

3. Create the base. Drag a Box onto the workplane and set it to 170 × 40 × 5 mm. Use red as a temporary modelling colour.

4. Add the name. Drag in Text, enter the name and use a bold font. Fit it inside the 150 × 20 mm text area. Set the temporary text colour to black.

5. Set text height. Make the text 6 mm high and lower it 5 mm into the base, leaving 1 mm raised. This anchors the text for printing.

6. Align and inspect. Centre the parts and check top, front, side and perspective views.

7. Group and name. Bundle/group for alignment while preserving the base and text as separate colour parts. Name the project.

8. Export. Use Export and save everything as an OBJ. Tinkercad saves the OBJ and MTL information in a ZIP file for two-colour assignment in the slicer.

ALEX nameplate model shown on the Tinkercad workplane

Important: A single fully united STL cannot assign separate colours to the base and text in Objects mode.

3. Slice — Prepare the print

Use Bambu Studio or OrcaSlicer, depending on availability.

1. Choose the slicer and printer. Select the printer and create filament slots with the required colours. Extract the Tinkercad ZIP so the OBJ and MTL files are available.

2. Import the model. Load the OBJ and confirm the nameplate lies flat on the build plate.

3. Select the material. Select PLA for this project and choose the appropriate PLA material profile for the filament being used.

4. Assign colours. Assign black to the base and white to the text using the appropriate filament slots.

5. Visual confirmation. Check orientation, alignment, colours and build-plate fit.

6. Slice. Slice the model and inspect the layer preview.

7. Prepare the print. Send the job to the printer or export the correct printer-ready G-code file.

The layer preview should confirm that the base prints first and the raised name remains connected to it.

4. Print — Make the object

Load the filaments, clean the build plate and monitor the first layer. Continue the print once adhesion and the initial layers look correct.

5. Evaluate — Check the result

Compare the finished nameplate with the original concept and project requirements. Check size, spelling, alignment, colours, finish, strength, flatness and mounting. Record the result and identify any change required.

Requirement or size
Return to CONCEPT

Shape or text
Return to MODEL

Colour or settings
Return to SLICE

Printer or quality
Return to PRINT

The process repeats until the finished object meets the original need.