The Project Portfolio of Sebastian Wallach
Additive Manufacturing
A Never Ending Project
Ever since the first 3D printer was advertised and released to the consumer market, I have been fascinated by the idea of additive manufacturing. About a year after these printers became available to the average consumer, I saw my first one in real life at my dad’s company offices, and it was mesmerizing. After watching it print plastic bracelets all day, my mind began to wander. I thought to myself, “What else can I tell this machine to print?” That moment marked the beginning of a hobby that has captured my interest ever since.
3D Designing
Ever since seeing that first bracelet come off the build plate of the original MakerBot Replicator, I had been searching for software that would allow me to create my own designs. In eighth grade, I discovered TinkerCAD, a simplified version of programs like AutoCAD and Fusion 360 that allows beginners to create 3D designs. Over the next year, I spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of TinkerCAD, designing hundreds of projects, all of which could be printed on a 3D printer.
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The next step in my 3D design journey was moving from the basic TinkerCAD program to the more advanced and precise Fusion 360. With this powerful software, I was able to create designs measured down to half a centimeter, allowing me to build parts that could be assembled like professionally molded and manufactured components.
My Designs
By the time I became proficient in two of the most capable 3D design programs in the world, I began designing some remarkable parts. To train myself in design precision and tool use, I started by recreating famous buildings—such as the White House—using Google Earth footage to build accurate, to-scale models in TinkerCAD or Fusion 360. The skills I developed from re-creating so many buildings eventually led me to a project where I built a scale model of my entire school campus.
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After mastering replication, I moved on to creating original projects. One of my favorite creations was a puzzle box. At the time, I was also fascinated by Geocaching, a worldwide treasure hunt where people hide items in the woods and post the coordinates online for others to find. While I enjoyed discovering these hidden treasures, I was even more excited about creating my own. Using TinkerCAD, I designed a device that looks like a birdhouse—but it isn’t. It’s actually a puzzle box that a Geocacher must solve in order to access the prizes hidden inside.
