What Materials Are Needed to Make a 3-D Bar Graph?

You can make three-dimensional bar graphs on a computer or by hand.

Bar graphs are a favorite method of illustrating relative sums. For years, people have used two-dimensional bar graphs, but with today's technology and materials, many are using three-dimensional bar graphs with two or more variables. Creating these is easy with a little effort and time; all you need is a computer with a spreadsheet program for printed graphs or craft supplies for physical models.

Computer 3-D Bar Graph

To make a three-dimensional bar graph to be printed from the computer, you will need a printer and a spreadsheet application. Open a spreadsheet application, such as Excel. Enter your data in the rows and columns provided. Select all of the cells that you would like to have represented in the three-dimensional bar graph. Go to the "Insert" menu item at the top of the spreadsheet window. Click "Chart" and select the type of bar graph you would like to create. When the graph is satisfactory, click "Print" in the "File" menu and make any print layout changes in the window. The three-dimensional bar graph should print exactly as you have created it. If you prefer to view the three-dimensional bar graph on the computer, your spreadsheet application should allow you to navigate to the graph or save it as another file type, such as an Adobe PDF.

Physical Bar Graph with Limited Data

If you prefer to build a physical bar graph, but you do not have much data, you may prefer to make the bar graph from Styrofoam blocks. Styrofoam is cheap and relatively easy to work with. Cut the Styrofoam with a foam knife or an electric foam cutter. If you would like to paint the Styrofoam to highlight certain sums, do not use regular paint; instead, use foam paint, available at most hobby stores. Standard paint eats away at the Styrofoam, which will hurt the aesthetics of your three-dimensional bar graph. Glue the three-dimensional bar graph elements to a sheet of laminated foam board oriented horizontally or vertically, depending on the use of the bar graph. Use a non-caustic adhesive, such as wood glue or a glue gun, to fix the foam bars to the board. If your bar graph seems to lack structural integrity, interlock the bar elements with horizontal, wooden dowel spars, connecting the bars and adding stability. Be sure to use thin dowels to limit the visual effect of the spars. These connections should add a great deal of strength to your three-dimensional bar graph.

Physical Bar Graph with Many Sets of Data

For three-dimensional bar graphs with large amounts of data, use basswood strips or dowels. The basswood comes in a variety of sizes -- from 1/32 inch to 3/4 inch, so you will be able to find a size appropriate for your bar graph. Cut the basswood strips or dowels with a saw or craft knife. Paint the individual pieces of basswood with your choice of paint. The basswood will not degrade when painted, but ensure that the wood has an even coat of paint, without drips. Glue the basswood bars together with wood glue. Some bar graphs will not need a base; however, you may prefer to add a base sheet to give the bar graph stability. Use a thin sheet of basswood, available at most hobby stores, as the base. The basswood can be 3/32 to 1/4 inch thick. Paint the basswood base before adhering the bar graph, and use wood glue to mount the graph to the base.

Other Creative Physical Bar Graphs

If you would like to create a three-dimensional bar graph that is somewhat different, create a mold using cardboard or poster board, modeling the negative of each bar in the graph. When the mold is completed, you should have the inverse of the three-dimensional bar graph. Fill the mold with paraffin wax, epoxy or plaster. Allow the mold to set, and within a few days, you will have a very fine, monochromatic three-dimensional bar graph.

References

• "Model-Making"; David Neat; 2008.
• "Microsoft Excel In Depth"; Bill Jelen; 2010.