Project: Baby Mobile – McDull & Friends (麥兜)

We had the idea to make our own mobile for our baby. I wanted a McDull (麥兜), a HK TV show, themed mobile and we got working.

For those not familiar with HK shows, this is the reference image for McDull (the pig in the middle) and his friends.

Image Source: RTHK

To give you a flavour of the silliness in this show:

Starting each character with paper cutouts.

Cutting and stitching Chinese characters are a lot of work, so I proposed a merge with technology.
To create 3D Chinese characters I learned the following process:
1) Start with an *.AI file: 春田花花幼稚園 (name of the elementary school)
2) Export as *.DXF format and import into solidworks
3) In CAD I connected the loose pieces and then extrude
4) Export to 3D printer

3D printer at work, it was so exciting!

Printed pieces, sanded and ready to go.

Spaced and glued onto the wooden frame.

Frame wrapped and Carmen balancing the support straps.

A group photos before we string them up to the mobile.

Home-made mobile stand when Carmen attaches all the final pieces.

Final product, now we wait for the arrival of our new family member!