Jump to Ufo Frog

In this whimsical sci-fi scenario, I designed a 3D-printed artwork combining a UFO and a frog. The piece depicts extraterrestrial aliens mistakenly identifying an Earth frog as one of their long-lost kin and using their signature tractor beam to abduct it onto their UFO. 

The scene is humorous and filled with intricate details: the bewildered frog is being pulled up into the UFO, surrounded by lily pads, rippling water, and other frogs also caught in the beam. The comical resemblance between the frog and the alien species adds to the absurdity of the story.

Cardboard

3D modeling software 

Printable 3D files 

Paper clips 

Colored paper 

Acrylic paint 

Adhesive

Alternative Approach:

If a 3D printer isn’t available, the UFO can be made from cardboard, and the frog can be sculpted with clay. 

I began by visualizing the final design and creating a rough sketch to map out my ideas.(You can also choose to switch to other animals, such as cows, which are very common.)

As mentioned earlier, cardboard can be a substitute for 3D printing. This is because the prototype itself was initially crafted using cardboard to refine the concept.

Once the dimensions and design were finalized, I started creating the digital model. I used two software programs: Onshape and Blender. 

Onshape was used to design accessories. 

Blender was used to model the main structure. 

*The thickness of the cabinet is 3 millimeters*

*The thickness of the leaves is 2 millimeters*

In fact, it is very simple, just copy a total of 8 circles and scale or transform them, and you are done.

UFOs are also made in the same way as frogs.

After all the components were printed, I painted them using acrylics. Since the school’s printing materials might not match the desired colors, acrylic paint allowed me to customize the final look. 

Prepare a large and a small paper clip.

As long as you have two hands, you can easily fold it out.

Once the painting was complete, I assembled all the components to bring the design to life.