Tuesday, February 25, 2020

3D Printed Keyring Using Scribble

Challenge: Using 'Scribble' option from Tinkercad to produce a unique 3D Print.
Background: As a new school year has started in New Zealand we are looking at ways to use the creation process involved with 3D Printing for students to create new projects and cover new ground.   As some of the students in this years class cohort have already mastered using basic Tinkercad design we wanted to use another tool to help encourage them to create something individual.

One of the key Tinkercad design tools is the 'scribble' icon, which can be seen in the bottom right hand corner of this screenshot.    The student concerned was challenged to use this tool to create something unique.   She was wanting to create a gift for another student and work independently to create a design.

By utilizing the scribble design she kept the design brief and was able to create the cat that was featured to the left.   The 'scribble' option allowed this Y5 student to create something with an easily recognisable design.   To ensure that the print was personalised she added the students name to the bottom of the design (which indeed is spelt with a single l).   Finally to allow the item to have a purpose she used the ability to easily put a hole into the design in the top right hand.

We are previously created detailed step by step instructions to complete this sort of task as we would appply it as a basic introduction to 3D Printing for students who are in the Y5-6 year level (independently).
Degree of Difficulty: Low - there is a variety of tutorials and assistance to complete projects like this.  As an introduction to 3D Printing we usually find students can complete it successfully after watching videos such as this.
Size: The design measured 110mm across from end to end and was 90mm high.  One of the key elements to reduce the print time but to also ensure that it was manageable was to ensure that the thickness of the print was 5mm.    Given the purpose of the design, the size ideal for the project.
Timeframe: Three and a half hours.   The printers that we are using for this project are working on a 4mm nozzle and are nearly five years old (although they have been reconditioned).
What we would do differently/next steps for students: 'Scribble' is a basic design to allow students to create more unique pieces of work.   The icon and nature of the design tool does not suit every design, however it is something different and it allows for something unique to be created by the students involved.   Result.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

3D Printed Projects: 2020 School Year

Challenge: Students wanting to re-create projects from the last school year and adapt them for the new school year.    These prints have featured previously on this blog and are being reimaged.

The first print was a different version of a stationary holder designed by a student with a 'building theme'.   In the original the student went with a black/orange colour combination.   In this instance the student opted to change the colours and repeat the print.   The student went with the black/blue combination.   The student furthermore wanted to add the addition of lettering to this design to personalise it as a gift.   The print is the same scale and the print details of the print as it was described here on the original post.

The idea behind this print was as a farming themed gift for the father of the student.   They found the design from the regular Tinkercad site and adjusted it by introducing or creating a platform for the cow to stand on.   Furthermore she introduced 'Dad' to the base of the design with the intention of developing it further.   One of the ongoing issues that we have had with prints of these dimensions is the legs of the animal when the PLA is removed often come off.   We have had several prints where this has been the case.   While there are additional materials to remove the PLA we are still looking at tools to complete the process.