3D Designing a Pencil Holder in SelfCAD

A pencil holder is a container or organizer designed to hold and store pencils, pens, markers, or other writing instruments. It can come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, ranging from simple cylindrical cups to elaborate desktop organizers with compartments for different types of writing tools. 

Pencil holders are commonly used on desks, tables, or in other workspaces to keep writing implements organized and easily accessible. They are available in a variety of styles, including traditional stationary designs, novelty shapes, or even customizable options for personalization.

Designing a 3D Pencil Holder in SelfCAD

SelfCAD is a 3D design software that allows users to create 3D designs without requiring extensive prior experience in 3D design. Here's a basic step-by-step guide on how you might design a simple 3D pencil holder using SelfCAD. You can check out the video below to learn how to design it.

To begin, start by creating a new project in SelfCAD and launch the workspace. 

Basic Shape for the Holder

Use the Cylinder shape in the 3D Shapes to create the basic shape of your pencil holder.

Adjust the dimensions to your liking, considering the size and shape you want for your holder.

On the toolbar, click on the Rotate tool and rotate the cylinder by setting the Z axis to 90:

Then go to the Tools category on the toolbar and select Copy Offset tool. 

On the Copy Offset settings on the left panel, set the Position of X axis to 200. Set the Number of Copies to 1. 

Click on the Copy option to make the copy as shown below:

On the Position set the X axis to -100 and click Copy to make the third copy as shown below:

Use the Scale tool to scale the middle copy as shown below:

On the Advanced settings of the scale tool, click on the Copy Offset and set the Number of Copies to 2 and click on the Copy to make a duplicate:

Scale down the copy made using the Scale tool: 

Select the two objects. On the toolbar, click on the Stitch and Scoop tool and select the Difference. Select the copy (object_23) to subtract it:

Click Apply to finalize the operation:

Hide the above object. Then isolate the objects and remain with the shown below part:

Then on the right panel, select the Inverse Seelection tool:

Set the Cube Selection parameters as shown below:

Click on the check mark to finalize the operation. Change the View Mode to Top: 

Activate the Face Selection tool and use it to select the faces as shown below:

Click Delete to do away with the selected faces:

After deleting the faces, this is how it will look like:

The next step is to add the thickness. On the Modify category, select the Add Thickness tool and set the Thickness to 2.5 and click on the check mark to finalize the operation:

Then restore back the isolated part and use the Move tool to position the object as shown below:

Then use the Scale tool to scale it as shown:

Select the two objects as shown below, and then click on the Stitch and Scoop tool> Union and click Apply: 

Select the two parts left as shown below, and then select Union on the Stitch and Scoop category and then apply: 

Add Details or Patterns

On the Tools category, select the Magic Fix tool and set Tolerance to 150 and click on the check mark to finalize:

Repeat the same procedure of applying the Magic Fix on the part shown below:

Activate the Solid Mode to observe the object:

And there you go, the pencil holder is ready:

This is just a basic guide, and you can experiment with different shapes, sizes, and details to create a unique 3D pencil holder that suits your preferences. 3D pencil holders can come in a variety of creative shapes, including geometric patterns, characters, animals, or unique abstract designs. Some may be designed with multiple compartments or slots to organize different types of writing instruments.

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