EDUstick® Creators Club

Find the other half

Make eight separate PLA halves: first the outline, then the infill. Mix up the parts and find the pairs that form a heart, a house, a Christmas tree, and a butterfly. Choose the PLA colors yourself; match the pieces by their overall shape.

Your outcome: Make the puzzle and choose the other half based on the complete silhouette.

Ages 8 and up; use of the pen and adult assistance must follow the device instructions. • Approximately 45–75 minutes, including 30–50 minutes of pen work.

Illustration of the finished construction. Full-size (1:1) templates are supplied on a separate sheet.

Preparation

What you need

A 3D pen, the selected filament and equipment available in your workspace. See the complete list below.

Tick off prepared items. Your selections are saved on this device.

Equipment

PLA 3D pen with required equipment1 set

Material

PLA in colors of your choiceSee the filament amounts below; allow some extra

Equipment

Transparent mat from the kit1 piece

Printouts

Template printouts at 100% scale1 set: 8 different halves

Equipment

Ruler with millimeter markings1 piece

Filament — amounts include extra

PLA 1.75 mm — any PLA color you choose (the illustration color is an example)4.5 m · ≈ 13.5 g

Total filament: 4.5 m · approximately 13.5 g

The quantities include extra filament. Grams indicate estimated net filament mass, excluding packaging.

Preparation

Before you start

With an adult, check the pen instructions, the approved age range, and the settings for PLA. Choose the PLA colors.
“Left” and “right” refer to the sides of the finished picture viewed from above. The straight edge of each half is its matching edge.
Print the templates at 100% scale, without fitting them to the page. Use a ruler to check that the reference line is 20 mm long.
Place the 1:1 template under the transparent mat from the kit on a stable worktop. Prepare a place for cooled parts and for setting down the pen.
Make the halves one at a time, following the template layout on the sheet. Finish each one and let it cool completely before clearing the space for the next one.

The large image shows the stage outcome; small views show the action. ×N: repeat the entire action N times, cooling and checking each time. Illustrations are not at 1:1 scale.

Session 1 • stage 1/5 • Preparation

Prepare the workstation

With an adult, check the pen instructions, the approved age range, and the settings for PLA. Choose the PLA colors. Print the templates at 100% scale, without fitting them to the page. Use a ruler to check that the reference line is 20 mm long. Place the 1:1 template under the transparent mat from the kit on a stable worktop.

Prepare a place for cooled parts and for setting down the pen. Make the halves one at a time, following the template layout on the sheet. Finish each one and let it cool completely before clearing the space for the next one.

Check: The reference line is 20 mm long, the template is under the transparent mat, and the PLA and work area have been prepared according to the pen instructions.

If it does not work: If the line is not 20 mm long, print the templates again at 100% scale without fitting them to the page. Check the PLA settings with an adult.

Session 1 • stage 2/5

Draw the first outline

On the template for this half, start at the straight edge. Guide the PLA around the entire contour and return to the starting point. Join the end to the beginning to close the outline. Make only this half; do not fuse it to another one.

Check: The outline is closed, and the straight edge has not been widened.

If it does not work: Close the gap with a short strand that overlaps both ends, working on the flat surface.

1 × Heart — left half · PLA | template W01–W08

→ T001 • Techniques — reference appendix

Closed outline

Heart — left half

Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.

Session 1 • stage 3/5

Fill in the first half

Add 9 crosswise strands as shown on the template, working from top to bottom. Guide each one along the surface from one side of the outline to the other. Use the pen tip to join both ends to the outline with fresh PLA. Do not touch the hot material. Wait until the piece has cooled completely. Only then clear the space for the next half.

Check: There are 9 visible strands joined at both ends. The half is separate and flat.

If it does not work: Join a loose end to the outline with a short strand on the surface. Wait until the piece has cooled completely. Remake a misshapen half; do not try to straighten cold PLA by force.

Outline with 9 strands

Heart — left half

Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.

Session 1 • stage 4/5

Make the remaining 7 halves

Repeat the same technique for W02–W08: close each outline, add the 9 strands shown on the template, and join their ends to the outline. Work on one half at a time, let it cool completely, and only then clear the space for the next one. Do not fuse the halves together. Choose the PLA colors yourself.

The illustration shows the complete set after the repeats; the accent marks the final half, W08.

Check: Count 8 separate, flat halves: 2 for each picture. All outlines are closed, and the strands are attached at both ends.

If it does not work: Make the missing half using its template. Join a loose strand to the outline on the surface; let it cool before checking it.

1 × Heart — right half; 1 × House — left half; 1 × House — right half; 1 × Christmas tree — left half; 1 × Christmas tree — right half; 1 × Butterfly — left half; 1 × Butterfly — right half · PLA | template W01–W08

→ T001 • Techniques — reference appendix

The current stage ends with a complete set of 8 separate halves

Current stage: outline of the second half • What to repeat: House—left: outline; House—right: outline; Christmas tree—left: outline; Christmas tree—right: outline; Butterfly—left: outline; Butterfly—right: outline

Technique example from the first half — repeat it for every remaining half • What to repeat: Heart—right: 9 strands; House—left: 9 strands; House—right: 9 strands; Christmas tree—left: 9 strands; Christmas tree—right: 9 strands; Butterfly—left: 9 strands; Butterfly—right: 9 strands

Heart — right half · House — left half · House — right half · Christmas tree — left half · Christmas tree — right half · Butterfly — left half · Butterfly — right half

Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.

Session 1 • stage 5/5

Mix them up and find the other half

Once the pieces have cooled completely, turn off the pen and set it down according to the instructions. Mix up the 8 halves; move them one at a time over an open space. Choose one, find its match by comparing the outline, and place the straight edges together. Make 4 pictures. Identify the overall shape regardless of the colors.

Keep the halves separate; do not fuse or press them together. After playing, put away all 8 cooled parts.

Check: Viewed from above, you can identify a heart, a house, a Christmas tree, and a butterfly. Each picture consists of 2 loose halves and measures approximately 8 × 8 cm.

If it does not work: If the shape does not match, rotate the part or choose another one. Set a damaged part aside for repair on the surface with an adult's help; let it cool completely before playing.

4 matched silhouettes

Heart — left half · Heart — right half · House — left half · House — right half · Christmas tree — left half · Christmas tree — right half · Butterfly — left half · Butterfly — right half

Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.

Finished — check the outcome

There are exactly 8 separate PLA halves in any colors you choose; match the pairs by shape.
Each half is flat and cool, with a closed outline and strands joined at both ends.
The four pairs form a recognizable heart, house, Christmas tree, and butterfly, each approximately 8 × 8 cm.
All pairs can be separated and matched again by silhouette, without bending or gluing.

Save the model to your collection and rate the activity in the Creators Club.

Finished model

Four pictures from eight halves

Compare your model with the illustration.

Techniques — reference appendix

T001 • Stage 2 · Stage 4

1 × Heart — left half · PLA | template W01–W08

1 × Heart — right half; 1 × House — left half; 1 × House — right half; 1 × Christmas tree — left half; 1 × Christmas tree — right half; 1 × Butterfly — left half; 1 × Butterfly — right half · PLA | template W01–W08

On the 1:1 template for this half, make one closed outline with a straight matching edge. Add 9 crosswise strands along the surface, from one side of the outline to the other; join both ends of each strand to the outline with fresh PLA. Make one layer, with strands about 1.6 mm wide. Do not fuse the halves together or build up the straight edge outwards. Wait until the piece has cooled completely.