Laser Cut: Christmas Decorations

 

We have always encouraged students to look at unpacking their ideas and creations including locating and working out how an item was made.

Recently we had students who attending a local craft market, as part of the market one of the students purchased a cartoon-ish reindeer which is shown in the left of the group photo.

The student purchased this item, brought it into school and this created a situation where we were able to look at how it had been put together.  This became a situation where we asked our students - how was this made, what did it take to create and where was the use of technology.

We then decided to pose the question - is this something that we could make? What might it look like - and what else could we produce.

We started by using a basic search engine but then included in the search the phrase laser cut template and Christmas decorations.

The students located the tree shown left.   This temple included a base and a mid point, and the design was freely available on a site as a free template download.  The file was duly downloaded and the laser cut was completed.

The actual laser cutting took approximately six minutes- the 3D Print version of something this size would have been considerably longer.

The next step for the students is what can we add to the design, what can we use to decorate this further - how can our students potentially use a 3D Printer or other material to finalise the decoration for this project.   The potentially to produce a run of class prints (a set of twenty five or so).

3D Printing Ides Bucket!

Recently on Twitter there was a discussion about ideas to enthuse students for 3D Printing - as a way to encourage amazing designs but also ways to look at getting students to have the 'wow' factor.

We are very fortunate to have a wide range of projects that have occurred over the last ten years, which are of course detailed on this blog.   When we have projects that we find innovative or interesting one of the things that we like to do is to create an additional print and add it to the bank that we are working with.

We have a tub in the classroom with a range of examples, and we let students explore these.   They are all robust, and not all of them have printed successfully however we have used them to create a discussion point with the students about design.

In a similar manner while the tub has the long term projects in the current projects or project that we are presently working on, which we want to be more accessible with the students - contained in this chest.

The chest is the laser cutter treasure box that was created using our school laser cutter.   The details of this project can be found here.

One of the things that we point to is the robust nature of the 3D Prints.   The earliest prints date back nearly ten years and are still in a workable state, we have had hundreds of students handle and maintain these prints 

Junior Masterclass - Pushing a Tinkercad Design

 

We have spoken at length about a number of reasons why our students use Tinkercad (on iPad) as part of class designs and challenges.   We have used it, in its free form, for ten years with a range of students, which date back to the very first posts on this blog.

We continue to find it manageable and creative - and an example of this is shown left.  This has been created by a student using Tinkercad to design a significant Christmas project.  

This student opted to design a Christmas Sleigh themed design.   He wanted to build the entire design by using Tinkercad to include the main shapes and the complete design.    The student has worked on this over a considerable period of time, refining, reworking and adapting to the design until he was happy with it.

This student has worked on a number of projects this year, which is his first year working with 3D Printers and CAD (Tinkercad) design.

We have yet to print this 3D Design - we have used Tinkercad to create an AR/VR version of this project, which has been placed outside our classroom.   The student has determined that he wants to create a Christmas Card based around this design.   He has begun the process of using different filters with the image that Tinkercad design created.

An example of the process of using filters, as supplied on Pic Collage, is shown left.

The student is continuing to experiment with this - ultimately we would like to experiment with the process of using the design, although the question is whether or not this will make the process of printing remains to be seen.

We are nearly finished for the school year in New Zealand we will be completing our final run of prints prior to school completing on December 16th 2024.

Using the Sticker Machine for General Labels

 One of the local groups that we are working with is the local people who are opening a new Wharekai (Kitchen/Dining Area) as part of their Marae.   As part of this we have been looking for opportunities in how we might use our technology and share the projects and share the ideas, resources and what we can make with others.

This use of the sticker machine fits several of those criteria.  We have allowed others to design projects to encourage them to engage in the school.  In this case these labels while straightforward and would be used typically as labelling for material at the site.   We would be confident once the vinyl was applied to the resource that it would not fall off or weather, even if it is exposed to water.   We can point to the outside poster which has remained outside for over a year without any weather damage.

The stickers were printed 70mm by 50mm and were designed using Pic Collage.   The designs were then imported into the software that is part of the machine, and printed via the LCD panel with the software that was part of the machine purchase.

The machine has a variety of medium to print on including t-shirt transfers.

The print time for a sheet this size was just over twenty five minutes, which would be standard for a sheet of this size.

3D Printing: Junior Projects Ongoing

We have students looking for opportunities to complete individualised projects that are not otherwise available.

In this case shown left a basic design was created by a student, using a previous available tutorial on Tinkercad.   When the design was completed it was then passed to a senior student with which to complete the spray painting of the design.    The student was extremely pleased with the results.

There were a point that the hole for the attachment of a cord or drawstring was slightly too big or too close to the edge of the design, however the student opted against a reprint.

The print took five and a half hours to complete and was 140mm high, was 100mm wide and was 10mm thick.   It was designed to be as robust as possible as it was for a gear bag.

We have continued to allow students to experiment with the develop ideas related to Christmas Decorations.  This is something that we have done each year as it has allowed each design to be created and also has a realistic print time for the project to be completed and allow each student to progress from a concept, to an idea, to a design and then refine the design as required.

In the example shown left the students basic block shape has been further refined by inserts for the name and shape and a ring inserted in the top left to allow the decoration to be hung easily from a tree.  The design measures 90mm by 90mm and was then subsequently spray painted by a senior student.   The print time was two and a half hours.

You can read a presentation about ten years of Christmas Decorations Projects.

Christmas Gifts/Unique Designs/Earrings Business for Students.    When we held our School Market Day last year we created a range of business that featured and used all of our technology opportunities for our students.  The laser cutter was used for various market day projects, the sticker machine was used for packaging and labelling and we had several 3D Printed based businesses.   One of which being run by a Y3 student was based around 3D Printing Earrings.  This student is now a year older however we have made the decision to feature some of these designs for sale from the school office for Christmas gifts given that they are unique and we can produce them at a rate that is achievable and quickly (typically the pair of earrings as shown in the photograph can be printed in thirty minutes or thereabouts).  We will be featuring these in an area adjacent to our school office with the intention that they can be designed. created and marketed by our students.

Christmas Projects: Something unique, something personal and something created by a student.

This was a relatively straight forward design from a Y3 student in the classroom who was creating and designing for one of the first times.   

It was easily achievable to complete a Tinkercad design that the student was intending to complete with spray painting.

The student was extremely proud of this intending to use it to label for the family pet.    The design was 120mm long/across, was was 10mm high and was 50mm wide at the ends and 40mm wide in the middle for the print.

3D Printed Junior Tinkercad Progression Design

 

Challenge: To produce a label that is suitable for a adult to use to attach to a gear bag, designed, reshaped and redesigned by a junior.

Background: One of the things that we like to do with the 3D Printer is to try and get the students using Tinkercad and revising, remodelling and improving their design until it has changed significantly or served its purpose.   An example with the process, involving a seven year old (Y3) student designing independently without the input or supervision of a teacher.

The task was straight forward and relatively easy, involving creating a tag for a bag.  We actually took a photograph the cow tag (shown above left, yellow) and used Markup to draw the design.  This gave us a starting point for the student to take the design and bring it into Tinkercad.  We also had the object to refer to the student to ensure that the size was correct.   While he did use the measurement aspect of Tinkercad clearly when the student created prototype (shown above) was compared to the original object in terms of size it was clearly not the correct dimensions - It was 60mm long and 30mm high.

The second design, when revised came from the feedback that was created for person who wanted to use it.   The tag design was more clearly evident and also the top of the design, with a narrow neck for the first one wasn't considered robust enough for a high use object.  Again as can be seen by the example shown left, the dimensions again were not as intended and therefore the shape was requested to be redesigned.   The student was again able to redesign the shape - it should be mentioned that the redesign here is very basic as the student is grouping different designs with lettering and the basic shape with a hole inserted - three basic steps.

The final form of the design was then created by the student.  Again using the tag as the guide this produced a result which finally reflected the dimensions that were originally intended.

The final completed version is as shown left.  In this example the dimensions are correct, while not exactly perfect these were close enough in the range to ensure that the person the design was intended for was happy.

Size: The final design measured 60mm across and was 80mm high.  This design was 5mm thick which significantly allowed a number of the final designs to be published.

Timeframe: Forty five minutes to complete the print.  This allowed multiple versions of the same print to be printed.

What we would do differently/next steps for the students: This print was able to be reshaped and redesigned several times and was shown to the student as a way of having it in their hands to ensure that they understood the changes that needed to be made.   Tinkercad is perfect for junior students to use in this instance to work independently on design - we didn't AR/VR this example before printing it but of course this is something else that could have been done.

Gala Day Signs - Using the Sticker Machine

Using the Versa Sign Maker to create signage for the School Gala Day/Event.  We are always looking for practical examples on how we apply our technology.  This is a simple example of one of the games that we used for our School Gala Night.   The machine was used to print a vinyl sticker - the sticker was printed large, that is 50cm by 1 metre.    The sticker was then applied to a sheet of corrugated cardboard.   In this case we used a real estate agents sign, which was supplied to us by a local agent that they no longer required.  This allows our students who were running this event to have signage that was labelled with the school details (mascot and name at the bottom) with the graphics completed on a Mac.   In the event of there being any rain during or before the school gala we were safe in the knowledge that the sign would not get wet (as it is essentially a large vinyl sticker).

The second version of these posters was created by a student using the Pic Collage app.   This was a design that was created in a short time-frame and as a result the student was able to produce signage for their school fundraiser that took place during the school gala night.

This produced a robust large sign that could be then used (and potentially used again in the future, there is no evidence of any colour running or fading of the design.   As a further note an example of this use of the machine has been created for advertising a local event.  The event poster was created by a local sports club, this poster has been placed outside in a location that was visibly prominent but also exposed to the elements.  This has been in place now for nearly a calendar year and there is no evidence of any damage to the sign, no evidence of fading etc.  This has been in place during a New Zealand winter and was exposed to a full range of elements.

Junior Evolving Christmas Print: Decorations

Challenge: To produce a unique and original Christmas decoration.

Background: Again this year we have challenged our students to create an original Christmas decoration - which we are printing in time for the festive season.

As an overview we have published a slideshow which shows ten years of Christmas based Tinkercad designed prints which is located on this blog here.

One of the things that we have challenged the students with this project to do is to think about how we might be able to change the print or reshape or design it and include it into something else.  In this case the design shown above was created as a tree with the intention of it being used to hang from a traditional tree.  As can be seen from the photograph the design is missing a hole.  There was an insert put into the design, however the student did not make the hole in the design big enough and as a consequence it was not successfully printed.   

The design took fifty minutes to print - and a pair was printed as the student was interested in investigating the potential to convert the design into a pair of earrings.

Previously we have students who have produced an entire range of 3D Printed unique earrings - these were initially created for various projects but have proven popular when we have our school Market Days.

The other aspect of the project that has proven to be positive is that the student concerned has completed a project, it has had a very reasonable print time and has then adapted and developed this idea, this project and this work (completely independently) further.

The final earring design is shown left.   Again while the details are clear they have been created by the main Tinkercad interface and designed by a student in a very short space of time.

Size: The first version of the tree was slightly larger being 50mm tall, 30mm wide and 5mm thick.   The finished earring shown left was slightly smaller to make it a more realistic earring size - 30mm high, 10mm with and 5mm thick.

Timeframe: The original print was forty five minutes, as this was intended as a ornament the revised version which was the earring was twenty five minutes which reflected in its reduced scale.

What we would do differently/Next Steps for the students: The student has already indicated that the design maybe refined slightly, the circles to represent the baubles in the middle of the tree are not refined enough and the student really wants to explore the use of metallic PLA so they don't have to use spray painting with the design.   Examples of how this has been used to produce finished work can be shown here.

3D Printed: Pencil Sharpener Holder Challenge

 

Challenge: To produce an original 3D Printed design that would be suitable to hold a pencil sharpener.  Student is restricted to create an original design from scratch and not use an existing or pre-made print.

Background: We have attempted variations of this challenge before, where the students have been tasked with taking an object and building it into a 3D Print.  You can see examples of this here on our blog.

You can also see a version of this design which incorporates a VR/AR version and one that has various filters applied.

This design came out of the process while this student is a student from the junior school this student has proven consistently to be someone who has grasped the concepts and ideas of 3D Printing and 3D Printed designs utilising a variety of techniques and excelled with her ability.

The scale of this print is larger than some of the smaller concept ideas of this version are smaller than a students finger.

The 'Dog' themed design was an original for the student.

Level of Difficulty: High - there are a number of component pieces that need to work in order for this print to be considered a success.  The legs need to balance, the tail needs to be feasible and the facial features of the dog are particularly important.  While importing many of these aspects would have been possible such as previous examples here, in this example we wanted the student to design them for herself to ensure that they were unique and she pushed herself with the design concept and idea.

Size: The print measures 140mm in length, was 50mm wide for the majority of the base and 80mm wide with the ears.   The design was 40mm high for most of it.  While the dimensions of this print is rather large it was intended to be this way.

Timeframe: This print took four and half hours.  Given the dimensions that were expressed above there was little that we would do to reduce or increase this time.  There was limited 'rafting' that took place at the base of the design.

What we would do differently/next steps for the student:

The student is happy with the overall design, aspects like the tail but she felt that the details in the face, which is conceivably the hardest to reliably create, she has stated that she wants to develop this particular aspect of the design further to make sure that it reflected a design that she was happy with.    Once this first print was created she felt she could have included additional details into the print to ensure that it would hold extra material such as a USB stick or a pencil.  Usually students are content with their prints, this is an example when a student wants to spend time and care to create a print that she is happy with. 

3D Printed Junior Christmas Projects Summary

 

Two copies of a basic Snowman design, created by a Y3 student.   Features oversized and exaggerated features and large loop in the head for attaching to a tree.  

This design was completed independently by a student in their first year of TInkercad designing using the main interface, selecting a predetermined snowman and then manipulating the design to add the features.

A small thirty minute design and print which was 40mm high.  Printed in metallic (shown left) and marble PLA (shown right).

Left another snowman - this was created again from the main Tinkercad interface.  The student used the top hat to add a whimsical feature to it.   The student also wanted to include an 'M' for their name on the base of it as well (which can be seen in profile).

This design was completed independently by a student who is also Y3 however has shown an aptitude to create and design using Tinkercad.  They were able to brainstorm the idea come up with the design, complete it all and submit it for printing in under thirty minutes.  

The print was completed in forty five minutes and is 50mm high to the top of the hat.   

The print shows an example of what can be created using a rainbow or metallic PLA which created the stripes that can be seen.   As we have noted on this blog we have opted not to spray paint the design further with any of these designs.

"Elf on the Shelf" original design.   This student was inspired with and then worked in conjunction with the student who was working on the Christmas Angel.   The student has used a series of original objects and designs that are available from the main Tinkercad interface.   By manipulating and altering and adjusting the basic shapes that are available an "Elf' was developed.

While the ring was inserted to allow the design to be hung from a tree it also had a base created that allowed the design to stand and be placed in a variety of locations.  The student wants to focus on an issue of redesign, related to the face of the creation as the definition the student considered not completed.

The design was completed using the metallic PLA print took two and a half hours to print and was 70mm high with a 40mm base/wide.   Other than the facial issues as noted the student is not intending to redesign this print.